Albion Rovers...................1

Alloa Athletic...................3

Scottish League One

ALLOA ATHLETIC ended their three-match winless run with a victory over Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill.

Goals from Steven Hetherington and Jordan Kirkpatrick had the Wasps in the driving seat before Joao Victoria pulled one back for the hosts.

But Steven Hetherington stunned the Cliftonhill crowd as he scored directly from a corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Manager Jim Goodwin was without Garry Fleming, whose appeal against his controversial red card in the match against East Fife was thrown out by the SFA.

That meant a return to the starting lineup for Jon Robertson, while Callum Smith also came into the team in place of Kevin Cawley.

Former Alloa favourite Jason Marr started for the home side, but ex-Wasps captain Graeme Holmes was absent.

The visitors were stronger in the opening stages and almost carved out a chance when Scott Taggart burst past left-back Daniel Baur, flashing a low cross into the box which goalkeeper Daniel Potts gathered.

Hetherington tried his luck from distance but with his weaker right foot, he was unable to keep the effort down and sent it sailing high over the crossbar.

Ross Stewart should have done better when Jordan Kirkpatrick sent him racing clear, but the striker couldn’t make the breakthrough against his former employers as he dragged his shot wide.

The home side began to grow into the game and Alan Trouten, in the midst of a prolific season, fired a warning shot across Alloa’s bows with a dipping effort from 25 yards.

Neil Parry was called into action for the first time midway through the first half, diving to keep out a fine glancing header from Sean Higgins who had found a yard of space in the box.

But the Wasps remained on top and eventually took the initiative ten minutes before the interval. Kirkpatrick’s free kick was blocked but it fell to Hetherington on the edge of the box, and the midfielder rifled home with the aid of a slight deflection.

Rovers responded immediately, and captain Andy Graham was forced into a terrific block to deny Kane Hester.

However, Alloa would go on to double their lead just before the break as their two St Mirren loanees combined. Stewart showed great awareness to flick the ball on for Kirkpatrick, who kept his cool to slot home from close range.

The hosts came out firing after the break and Higgins went close with another header, this time sending it wide of the post.

Scott McLaughlin wasn’t far away with a whipped free kick which had Parry worried before it sailed beyond the far post.

Alloa almost made it three in sensational fashion when Taggart pounced on a loose pass near his own box and raced the length of the pitch unchallenged, but his composure deserted him at the last second and he could only find the side netting.

Stewart was getting ever closer to the goal that had thus far eluded him, thundering a header off the crossbar as his side went in search of the goal that would put the victory beyond all doubt.

Rovers hauled themselves back into the game with 15 minutes to play thanks to a fine strike from half-time substitute Victoria. The attacker weaved his way past several challenges before perfectly placing his shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to halve the deficit.

Alloa continued to show plenty of endeavour going forward and their two-goal lead was almost restored when PJ Crossan picked out Callum Smith at the back post, but his header was saved by Potts.

However, the win was sealed in dramatic fashion in the closing moments as Hetherington netted directly from a corner. The ball looped high over Potts, crashed off the far post and nestled in the back of the net to wrap up a fine victory for the Wasps.

ALLOA: Parry, Taggart, Crane, Graham, McCart, Robertson, Smith, Hetherington, Stewart (Renton), Kirkpatrick (Cawley), Flannigan (Crossan). UNUSED SUBS: Goodwin, Wilson.