United started this CIS Insurance Cup second round strongly and in the opening minute had Alloa pinned back in defence. Within one minute of the start United's Jim Hamilton ran through onto a perfect pass from Stephen Wright only to see his shot go past Cairns right-hand post. Alloa withstood the pressure and they had a golden opportunity in the fifth minute when Willie Irvine connected with a Richard Huxford cross and his fierce 18-yard shot was well saved by Alan Combe in the United goal.

Seven minutes later Irvine again had a great opportunity for Alloa but his shot from 20 yards was turned away for a corner by Aljofree. United responded in the 16th minute when David Hannah shot from close range from a Jim Hamilton cross but Mark Cairns in the Alloa goal again made a brilliant save diving to his left-hand post. Alloa were well in control of the match but totally against the run of play United took the lead after 36 minutes when Mark Cairns made a terrible mistake in attempting to clear the ball and Stephen McConalogue nipped in to tap the ball home from close range for the opener. Five minutes later McConalogue scored his second when he rose above the Alloa defence to head a Hugh Davidson cross into the net. Dundee United's manager Alex Smith must have been relieved to go in at half-time with the cushion of a two goal lead. The restart was delayed for five minutes to allow referee Dougal to check out the lighting levels on the pitch as he was unhappy with the floodlights at Recreation Park.

Once satisfied that the lights were capable he restarted the match. United were soon in control. It was only a matter of time until they extended their lead to three and the third goal came in the 55th minute when Stephen McConalogue completed his hat trick. Alec Mathie's corner was nodded down by Jason De Vos into the path of McConalogue and his low drive from close range gave Alloa's keeper Cairns no chance. Alloa tried hard to get back into the match but they were unable to penetrate the United defence and although Wasps' boss Terry Christie freshened up his attack in the 67th minute when he replaced an out-of-touch Steve Thompson with Chris Wood, they could still not make a breakthrough. Within one minute Wood ran through onto an Ian Little pass but his weak shot from 12 yards out went past Combe's right hand post.

United's strength and Premier League position showed through and in the end they held on to their three-goal lead and although Alloa fought to the end they were never any real danger to the Arab's defence.

Dundee United: Combe 6, Wright 7, Aljofree 6, De Vos 7, Buchan 7, Partridge 6, Hannah 6, Davidson 6, Mathie 7, Hamilton 8, McConalogue 8 Substitutes: McQuillan(75) Smith(77) Fernandez(84) McCracken, Onstad.