Alloa took on the pre-season bookies favourites at the Indodrill with the rain belting down for much of the game.

Drama was quick to kick off as the ever influential Mouhamed ‘Sena’ Niang lunged into a tackle after just 19 seconds. The referee quickly produced a red card and Alloa were reduced to 10 men. Despite this impediment the 10 men of Alloa were resolute and they created the best chance of the first half when Adam King rocketed a shot left-footed towards Stewart McKenzie’s goal. The Cove keeper saved well but it was the only shot in anger forced upon either goalkeeper in the first half. Blair Yule had Cove’s best chance with a free header but could only put it wide from 7 yards.

Shaleum Logan was a continual threat from his deliveries and after 53 minutes proved it again when Durnan glanced a header across the six yard box from the right back’s cross. Rory McAllister was there to head home from point blank range. Alloa rallied and quickly made changes with Cawley replacing Sammon and later Howie and Robertson for Church and King respectively. After Taggart botched a run down the wing, he quickly recovered and robbed the slack Cove defence and driving into the box won a corner. Up stepped Stefan Scougall who blazed the corner in only for it to ricochet off Blair Yule’s thigh and helplessly bounce into the back of the net. Alloa were level and again for long periods you could forget the contest was 10v11.

The game was quickly erupting into chaos all over the park as both hopefuls swung for the second goal and the lead. Kevin Cawley had a spectacular whipped effort cannon off the outside of the post while just seconds later Cove were given a gift by Mendy’s loose pass to Harry Milne. He played in Masson who drove to the byline and sliced the Alloa defence open with McAllister delivering the killing blow and a second goal of the afternoon.

Late on Alloa defender Howie stretched his leg out to tackle Megginson and, despite what looked like minimal contact and despite pleading his case that he was beyond the 18 yard box, the referee pointed to the spot. Rory McAllister smartly finished to make it 3-1 to the visitors and Alloa were left to rue what might have been if Cawley’s effort had cracked the inside of the post instead of the outside.

Alloa drop to 7th in the table while Cove set the pace, before Queen’s Park play their ‘game in hand’ on Sunday.