Alloa Athletic boss Jack Ross has praised his players for their heroics in the 1-0 win over Raith Rovers in the SPFL Championship

Iain Flannigan's 85th minute penalty was enough to grab three crucial points for the Wasps in Kirkcaldy after a hard fought match in some difficult conditions.

The gaffer admits it is a game that could have gone either way, but he believes his men deserved the break of luck for the commitment and desire they showed.

Ross told Advertiser sport: “I’m so pleased for the players. Some people think in this role you’re interested in getting results for yourselves.The players have worked so hard since I’ve come in and I’m just delighted they have got their rewards.

“They’ve had an awful lot of knocks this season and it’s human nature that you lose confidence and you lose a little bit of belief, so I’m delighted for them. I’ve told them to enjoy it. Some people say don’t get carried away but I’ve told them to get carried away and enjoy it, and develop that taste for it, and hopefully there will be more of these to come between now and the end of the season.

Iain Flannigan slots home the winning penalty

“I think the game could've gone either way. We started to get to grips with the game from midway through the first half and we started to look more of a threat. We played well and got nothing from Falkirk and so these are the little bits of fortune that you need to go your way and we got that here.

"The guys put an awful lot into the game so I felt that we deserved the break. It comes down to attitude and desire. People can talk as much as they want about tactics and shape, and their ideas on how you play. But if you don’t have a bit of heart, it doesn’t really matter – and we had that in abundance.”

Ross had special praise for defender Colin Hamilton after two brave last ditch tackles helped secure victory for the Wee County outfit and the manager believes the young full back has benefitted from getting back to basics. The former Dumbarton assistant also praised returning striker Isaac Layne for his tireless display in attack and hopes he can now build on the performance.

The future of Alloa favourite Michael Doyle has been highly publicised this week after a late U-turn saw the full back sign a short-term deal with the club just days after announcing his departure, so the manager provided some clarity to the situation following the Raith match.

He said: “We have managed to secure Michael on another short term deal with the stipulation that if full time football arises for him then we will not stand in his way. If he continues to be available for us then I will be happy for selfish reasons. He was absolutely terrific against Raith, but what he has done at this club before my time with the service he has given them is top class and everyone at the club has a lot of respect for him.

“Colin Hamilton epitomises the heart and desire of our dressing room. He has had a season of adjustment coming up to this level for the first time, but I thought he was tremendous and made a few crucial blocks for us. I had a chat with him about concentrating on being a defender first and foremost then everything after that is a bonus.

"Isaac deserved his chance after his performances for Brechin and he certainly didn't let me down. He was playing against some good players and even the tempo and pace is different, but he acquitted himself well and hopefully he can build on it now.”

The 39-year-old former St Mirren defender is now fully focused on ending the Clackmannanshire club's wait for a home win this season because he believes that will be a key part of their survival plans in the remainder of the SPFL Championship season.

Ross added: “We must look to go and build on this come Saturday now. We have hopefully developed a taste for winning and while it is another huge test for us, I am determined to turn around our home form and get that elusive first win.

"We need to do that to give ourselves a platform. It is all good and well coming to places like Stark's Park and winning, but if we cannot win at home then it makes our task all the more difficult. It would also be nice to reward the people who have kept turning out to follow us no matter what this season and so hopefully we can do that on Saturday.”