GOAL HERO Greig Spence hopes his winner in the 2-1 friendly triumph over Cowdenbeath last weekend will be the first of many ahead of the new campaign.

The prolific striker, who scored 19 goals in League One for Cowdenbeath last season, is now hoping to build on the confidence of getting off the mark so early on, but was quick to pay tribute to his former side for helping him rediscover his goalscoring touch last term.

Spence told Advertiser sport: “I have loads of happy memories from my time at Cowdenbeath and I enjoyed myself there last season. I think before I signed here I had scored 11 goals in eight games here and obviously I enhanced that record for them last season so it was nice to come back and score again for Alloa. It is just something about the place that I obviously enjoy playing here and scoring goals on this ground.

“I had a feeling I would score even before the game and luckily I was able to pounce on my chance when it came about. In the first half, we never really got going and probably deserved to be behind at half time. But we came out with a renewed effort tin the second half and really showed our quality to get the win.

“I am delighted to get myself off the mark even although it is only pre-season. It is something I never worry about though because I know I will score goals, but it is definitely good to get one with the confidence that comes with it and hopefully there are plenty more to come. If you look at the creative players we have in the team and the service they will provide me with then hopefully that will help me to reach my targets.”

The Wasps went behind early in the game as Gary Glen put the Blue Brazil into an early lead, but second half goals from Kevin Cawley and Spence ensured it was the men in Balck and Gold who were celebrating, and he believes it is a game that will stand them in good stead for the season ahead.

The hitman revealed how some stern words from both Paddy Connolly AND veteran midfielder Jim Goodwin inspired the Wasps to a come back victory last weekend – a lesson he now hopes they will learn quickly from.

He said: “Paddy had to have a word with us at half time and to be fair we maybe needed it, but we then went out in the second half and dug in to earn the win and that could well stand us in good stead for the season. People say that the results don’t matter in pre-season, but winning and staying unbeaten is a good habit for us to get into. That is something Jim Goodwin has been driving into us in training and he obviously has the experience of playing at the very highest level.

“If we can get into the habit of staying unbeaten, getting clean sheets and winning games from the outset then we can for far this season. We will face games like that in the coming season where we won’t get things our own way, on a tight pitch and have to grind out a result, so I think this game will be good for us.”

The 24-year-old reckons the manner of their win at Central Park with a number of top team stars missing is proof of just how strong their squad is this year and he was quick to heap praise on the youngsters who have relished the step up to the top team this summer.

Spence added: “I think it shows just how good a squad we have that we can have four or five players yet still grind out a result. We have 18 boys in the squad who are all capable of playing and doing their bit. The young lads seem to be unfazed by the step up to the first team and they have been excellent in training so deserve their crack at it. We have a nice blend between youth and experience.

“The experience Jim Goodwin has brought to the dressing room has been brilliant for everyone. When he signed everyone said how he would be a leader and I was unsure what that would mean, but to be fair he has been brand new. He is not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks during games and in training so there is so much to learn from a player of his experience. The young lads especially can learn a great deal from him and his influence can only be good for the squad.”