Alloa Athletic continued their unbeaten pre-season campaign with an impressive run at the Oban tournament last weekend.

The Wasps ended the weekend in the runners up spot and only missed out on the trophy by way of goal difference to eventual winners Hamilton Accies.

Barry Smith’s men began the day with a showdown against St Johnstone and they came flying out of the blocks to race into a 2-0 first half lead through goals from skipper Ben Gordon and returning hero Greig Spence.

The Saints hit back after the interval to reduce the deficit back to 2-1 but the Wasps held firm to hold on for an opening victory against an enthusiastic young side.

Next up was the hosts, amateur side Oban Saints, but there was no warm hospitality from the local side as they got stuck into their SPFL Championship opponents and looked to seize their moment in the limelight.

After a goalless first half, the hometown favourites were withstanding the visitors constant pressure and getting stuck in doing it but their luck was to change as the game headed towards its final minutes with three goals in quick succession.

Alloa struck first when a brilliant corner kick from Ryan McCord was nodded down goal ward by Daryll Meggatt and triallist Liam Buchanan was there to give his new side the lead.

Oban Saints hit back immediately to level with a well worked set play of their own but the visitors would not be denied.

Deja vu struck when McCord’s corner again found Meggatt but this time the powerful defender bulleted the header home for the winner.

The men in Black and Gold went head to head with a Dundee United’s U20s led by former star Dave Bowman.

The young tangerines played some nice football at times but their more experienced opponents gradually took over the match and got the vital breakthrough via striker Greig Spence with a controlled finish from close range for his 2nd goal of the tournament that sealed a 1-0 win.

Tournament favourites Hamilton Academical were up next and the stage was set up as a decider for the final game with both sides having won all their games in the build up. The Lanarkshire side had a much better goal difference going in meaning the Wasps would have to win the match to lift the trophy.

Accies boss Alex Neil fielded almost a full strength side for the game but it was the SPFL Championship side that struck first as skipper Ben Gordon bulleted home a header from a set piece.

Alloa’s lead did not last long however, as experienced striker Mickael Antoine Curier latched onto a loose ball to lash his side level and deny them the win they needed.

Despite missing out on the tournament win, this was a much needed workout for Barry Smith and his players who gained vital minutes on the pitch as they gear up towards their first competitive match with Arbroath on July 26.

The challenge facing Alloa is the visit of English League One side Northampton Town at Recreation Park on Thursday evening.