DELIGHTED gaffer Jack Ross heaped praise on his Alloa players after the 4-0 thrashing of Cove Rangers in the Betfred Cup.

The Wasps go their Group D campaign off to the perfect start as goals from Greig Spence, Andy Graham, Jordan Kirkpatrick and Isaac Layne sealed an emphatic victory over the Highland League outfit.

The manager was delighted with the way his players dealt with the sweltering heat at a sun-soaked Indodrill Stadium, but insisted there was still more to come from his men as they continue to crank up their preparations for the new League One campaign.

Jack Ross told Advertiser sport: "I don’t think we could ask for more in our first competitive game of the season. To have a clean sheet and score the number of goals we did was terrific.

"I think our overall play in the game was really good. I spoke before hand about keeping the momentum from the final part of last season and throughout our pre-season form and we did exactly that.

"I have a lot to be really pleased about and the players deserve a lot of credit for that. You don’t get perfect nights, but it was a really good start for us. It is important now that we don't get carried away, but it was as pleasing as it 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 that as soon as the players arrived and told them to hydrate themselves properly with plenty of fluids.

"I think the fact we went ahead early in the game helped us, but the second goal was the important one. As soon as we got that then thereafter 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.”

Ross was delighted to see goals coming from all over the pitch during their impressive win and says that is something they will need to carry into the new season proper if they are to challenge for promotion.

The 40-year-old boss was also thrilled to see strikers Isaac Layne and Greig Spence continue their pre-season form by each grabbing their first competitive goals, and he now hopes they will both build on that.

He said: “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,

"It is great for the strikers to get off the mark so early. They have carried on their form from pre-season. Greig was terrific all night and he could have scored more, but good goalkeeping kept him at bay. He was terrific running and turning their defenders and long may that continue.

"Isaac would have been aggrieved not to start because he has been terrific in pre-season and has taken his goals well so far. 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.”

Alloa now travel to Links Park to face League Two outfit Montrose this weekend and the gaffer admits he likely alter his starting eleven.

Ross added: “We will look at changing things and freshen things up for our visit to Links Park. We will train Thursday and look forward to Saturday, but it is a really busy schedule.

"I will rotate the team across the four Betfred games as it is a demanding schedule for any club, let alone a part-time one.

"We know 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."