Reaction

The Wasps started their competitive season with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Highland League side, Cove Rangers in tonight’s Betfred Cup match.

A delighted Alloa Athletic manager, Jack Ross said

“I don’t think we could ask for more in our first competitive game of the season, not conceding and scoring the number of goals we did, I think our overall play in the game was really good, I spoke before hand about keeping the momentum from the last part of last season and our pre season form and we did, I have a lot to be really pleased about and the players deserve a lot of credit for that.

It was good to have four different goalscorers and the players who came off the bench also made a difference in scoring and in the overall game and that is important because if we are to achieve what we want to achieve this season it will be the group of players which will achieve as opposed to just eleven players, you don’t get perfect nights but it was a really good start for us, we will not get carried away but it was as pleasing as could be.”

It was unusual conditions for the players because when we normally feel that heat we expect to be on a beach or next to the pool! We spoke about this as soon as the players arrived tonight and told them to hydrate themselves and drink plenty fluids, but the good bunch of professionals I have here at the club knew that anyway, I think the fact we went ahead in the game helped us but the second goal was the important one, because thereafter that I think we were able to control the game. Cove had put a lot into their game against Raith Rovers on Friday night at Station Park, Forfar but the second goal going in tonight floored them.

Great for the strikers to get off the mark, both Greig & Isaac and Jamie had already scored in pre season, Greig was terrific all night and he could have scored more but good goalkeeping kept him at bay, terrific running and turning their defenders, Isaac would have been aggrieved not to start because he has been terrific in pre season , but I will rotate the team in the four Betfred games it is a demanding schedule for any club especially part-time, Cove made four changes tonight and these conditions take a lot out of players, but for strikers it is important to get off the mark and our strikers have certainly done that which gives them great confidence.

We will look at changing things and freshen things up for our visit to Links Park, Montrose on Saturday, we will train Thursday and look forward to Saturday, but it is a really busy schedule for a part-time club, certainly it will be a difficult game on Saturday but we will prepare as we can for it and look forward in a positive frame of mind.”