Albion Rovers...0

Alloa Athletic... 4

Alloa produced an excellent second half performance, scoring four in the space of 17 minutes to continue their terrific winning run at Cliftonhill on Saturday.

Alloa made no changes to the team that had defeated East Fife at the Indodrill Stadium the previous weekend.

Forward player Luke Donnelly, signed on loan from Celtic the previous day, was named on the bench.

Albion Rovers, managed by ex-Alloa captain Darren Young, came into this game following a good fightback to draw 2-2 at Peterhead the previous and a 2-0 home victory over Hamilton under 20s in the Irn Bru Cup.

There was a minute applause before the match for the tragic passing of local 13-year-old Kieren McDade, who had collapsed during a football training session.

It was a warm afternoon in Coatbridge, which meant no appearance of the 'lucky' grey cardigan that manager Jack Ross has worn throughout this great run the club have embarked on. The players would have to break that particular superstition.

Despite the perfect conditions weather wise, the early stages of the game were rather scrappy as both teams attempted to grasp control on a bobbly pitch. There was an early booking for home midfielder Gary Fisher following a tussle with Iain Flannigan.

A Jim Goodwin header in the opening minutes was easily gathered by Ross Stewart in the Albion Rovers goal.

It was quarter of an hour in before Alloa created another real opportunity, with Scott Taggart driving down the right. His cutback found Jordan Kirkpatrick, but he shot well over the crossbar.

Alloa were struggling to create many openings, and after 20 minutes Alloa's midfield duo of Kevin Cawley and Iain Flannigan switched flanks in an alternative tactical strategy. And it almost paid instant dividends as Flannigan found space to race forward and unleash a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately for Alloa the ball clipped the inside of the right post, rolled the wrong side of the goal line and was scrambled to safety.

But Rovers were still providing a threat at times. Scott McBride turned Jim Goodwin well with almost half an hour gone, and his dangerous delivery across the face of the Alloa goal fortunately received no takers.

Alloa immediately responded - some good interchange between Cawley and Flannigan created an opening for a Flannigan shot but it was straight at keeper Stewart.

With 5 minutes to go in the half Jason Marr was booked for a foul around 30 yards from the Alloa goal. The free kick struck the Alloa wall and Andy Graham blocked the second attempt on goal. The biggest cheer of the half then arrived, when a local stray dog raced onto the pitch and attempted to prise the ball from the arms of the Albion Rovers goalkeeper, creating a temporary halt to proceedings.

Overall it had been a half of fairly low measures of real action. Alloa had enjoyed a lot of possession, but had struggled to really break down a resolute home side, who had looked quite dangerous going forward.

Alloa started the second period on top, and five minutes in a Callum Waters corner kick found Greig Spence at the far post - his volley flying just over the crossbar. But there was another scare for Alloa moments later when Jason Marr was dispossessed in his own half by Steven Boyd.

Boyd dallied a bit in his decision making though, eventually deciding to lay off Rovers striker Ross Stewart but Neil Parry did brilliantly to narrow the angle and block the goal bound effort.

Marr hobbled off shortly after with what looked like a leg injury, replaced by returning midfielder Jon Robertson with Jim Goodwin dropping back to centre half. Robertson was immediately involved in proceedings, latching onto a Cawley pass, but his shot was blocked by Rovers captain Mick Dunlop.

But Alloa's opener duly arrived after 57 minutes. Kevin Cawley's cross found Greig Spence in the penalty area. There was too much traffic blocking his route to goal, but he kept a cool head to lay off Flannigan on the edge of the box. His shot took a deflection on the way which undoubtedly helped beat the Rovers keeper, but never the less it was lead which Alloa deserved.

The home side looked like they were visibly tiring after this goal, and ex-Wasp Dunlop was fortunate to escape any action after he struck Spence with an elbow as the two contested an aerial ball. Alloa made a second substitute when debutant Luke Donnelly, on loan from Celtic, was introduced for Kirkpatrick.

In the 62nd minute, Alloa doubled their lead in impressive style. A Callum Waters free kick from 25 yards out soared through the air and struck the post for the second occasion, but Alloa received the luck of the green this time as the ball rebounded off the back of the diving keeper Stewart and into the net.

Alloa were right on the ascendancy now, and Donnelly quickly got to grips with the pace of the game. An excellent move in the 68th minute led to Alloa's third goal. After some neat and tidy midfield play, Flannigan drove down the left flank and his cross found Donnelly who rose to head home a very encouraging debut goal for the club.

In 74 minutes Alloa extended their lead and sealed an impressive win. Again it was the outstanding Flannigan causing problems with a terrific run forward from the halfway line. He attempted to find Spence in space in the area, but before it could reach the Alloa striker the Rovers captain Dunlop diverted the ball goalward to make it 4-0.

Dunlop attempted to make amends when his header struck the bar in the closing stages, but Alloa had the final opportunity of the match when substitute Hetherington and Flannigan linked together well. This created an opening for Callum Waters and his cross found Spence but his shot was blocked.

Overall it was an excellent second half performance from Alloa after a tough opening period. The game appeared to tip prominently into Alloa's favour following the introduction of Robertson, and Jim Goodwin was a real wall at the back when he dropped deeper. The home side looked a bit leggy and the outcome didn’t look in any real doubt after the opener. Some of the goals had an element of fortune about them, but such was the extent of the Wasps' second half onslaught this luck was probably deserved. Alloa's excellent winning run continues, with their ninth successive victory and they go into the next league encounter with Livingston full of confidence.