Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 12:28pm

Wasps in push to go top of the table

by Iain Robertson

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ALLOA Athletic are guaranteed top spot in Division Two if they can take six points from their next two league games.

Saturday's trip to play fourth placed Brechin will be followed by the visit of league leaders Cowdenbeath to Recreation Park next Tuesday.

And maximum points will see the Wasps - who currently sit one point behind the Blue Brazil - take the outright lead. And gaffer Allan Maitland believes they have the confidence to do it, especially after the late show at the Recs against Arbroath.

He told the Advertiser Sport, "I think the confidence and belief that comes to a club when the team play until the final minute and score a winning goal is massive. You score last minute goals because you are trying to win games of football. We are now at the stage when we believe we will go on and win games."

He continued, "It is important that we learn from the Arbroath game, though, as the players were really anxious knowing that a win would see us go above Stirling Albion."

The Wasps will be going for their fifth consecutive league win when they take on a Brechin side boasting an unbeaten home record this season.

But Maitland's men are the division's form side right now, and if new recruit Bryan Prunty (pictured right) can keep up his goalscoring start, win number five could well be on the cards.

In an interview for the Wasps website, Prunty said, "We go to Brechin, which will be tough. I have been there with a few clubs and it's always a difficult place to go.

"But we are playing with a bit of confidence now so hopefully we will take that into next week's game."

Jim Duffy's troops sit just four points behind Alloa and enjoyed a 2-1 victory at Glebe Park over the Wasps in the league back in October, but that scoreline was reversed when they visited the Recs in early December.

And if keeper David Crawford adds to his impressive number of shut outs this season - he bagged number 14 against Arbroath - Alloa could well inflict a first home defeat on the Angus club.

Current league leaders Cowdenbeath will be next up as the big games keep coming thick and fast. The Blue Brazil are a well organised side who have been the league's surprise package so far this season.

Alloa knocked them out of the Scottish Cup in December, but games against them have been tight, and that is likely to be the case again on Tuesday.

Just five points separate the top four sides, and with the Wasps set to play two of them in the space of four days, the title race is set to move up a notch.

Chris Townsley is out for four weeks, but Mark Gilhaney is close to a return and may be available for the Cowdenbeath game.

For more of Bryan Prunty's interview visit the website www.alloaathletic.co.uk