ALLOA Athletic had to fight back from a goal down to maintain their unbeaten run in pre-season with a 2-1 win away to Cowdenbeath. 

Goals from Greig Spence and Kevin Cawley were enough to cancel out Gary Glen's early opener for the hosts to seal the victory. 

The Wasps started brightly and might have gone in front straight from the kick off when Greig Spence was sent racing through on goal by skipper Graeme Holmes, but the striker took mercy on his former side as he blazed the shot over the bar. 

Liam Fox’s side rallied and opened the scoring on 9 minutes when great work by teenager Harvey Swann created room for the cross as he got away from Scott Taggart, the ball into box pick out Gary Glen who nodded beyond a helpless Neil Parry for the opener. 

Alloa tried to respond immediately and Jim Goodwin did well to pick out the run of Isaac Layne on 15 minutes, but new Cowdenbeath signing Gerry McLaughlin got back to make a last ditch saving tackle to clear the danger. 

The hosts could have been two in front on 21 minutes when Ryan Hoggan conceded a free kick 25 yards out from goal with a foul on Kris Renton. Dean Brett stepped up to smash the ball toward goal, but Parry was there to tip the effort onto the post and wide. 

The Blue Brazil were enjoying a good spell at this stage, and minutes later they had yet another chance to extend their lead. A great rampaging run forward by Swann saw him glide past two defenders and get his shot away from 18 yards, but once again it was Parry there to tip the effort beyond the post. 

The Wasps did have the ball in the back of the hosts’ net on 27 minutes when Spence finished off a cross after great work by Flannigan on the right to find him, but the offside flag cut short the celebrations. 

The game went a bit flat for a spell, but it was the visitors who lifted the tempo to create two opportunities before the interval. 

Full back Taggart did well to burst forward down the right and find Layne on the edge of the box. The hitman cleverly spun away from his marker to burst into the box, but a heavy touch took the ball through to a grateful David McGurn in the Cowdenbeath goal. 

Minutes before the break, the Wasps threatened again when Goodwin found Kevin Cawley on the edge of the box, he wriggled free of his marker to create room for the shot, but the effort was high over the top. 

The pattern of play was much the same after the restart as the teams exchanged chances at either end. A foul of Renton by Goodwin gave the hosts a glorious chance to extend their lead with a free kick on the edge of the box, but Fraser Mullen could only blast the ball over the top. 

Alloa began to threaten themselves and good play from Goodwin saw him pick out Spence on edge of the box, he teed the ball up for Layne, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. 

From the set piece, Waters cross was flicked goal ward by Goodwin, but Mullen was there to clear off the line for Cowdenbeath. 

It was only to be a temporary stay of execution for the hosts as the visitors levelled the match on 57 minutes. Good work from Layne won his side a corner. Waters took the set piece and his cross was met by Jason Marr. The header was saved by McGurn, but Cawley was quickest to react to tap home the rebound for 1-1. 

A host of substitutions took the rhythm out of the game soon after, but when it settled down again it was the Wasps who pounced to grab the initiative. 

A slip in the Cowdenbeath defence by McLaughlin sent Spence racing through on the goalkeeper and he made no mistake to calmly dink the ball over the goalkeeper to give his side the lead. 

Cowdenbeath could have levelled the match in the closing stages with two decent chances. 

Substitute David Robertson did well to get down the left, his cross picks out Renton in the box, but his bullet header was straight at McDowall who palmed the ball to safety. 

It was Robertson who had the final real chance of the match when he got past two players to run through on goal, but Marr got back to deflect his shot wide and the Wasps held on to end their pre-season campaign with a win. 

Advertiser man of the match: Graeme Holmes