Alloa boss Barry Smith has heaped praise on his stars after their comprehensive 4-1 win over Arbroath at Gayfield Park last weekend.

The Wasps gaffer was delighted with the display of the whole team and had special praise for striker Greig Spence after his hat trick but admits he was still annoyed to concede a late goal.

Smith told Advertiser sport, “It would have been the perfect start for us if we had managed to keep a clean sheet because I don’t like losing goals but our overall performance was really well done. We moved the ball really quickly in spells which caused them problems and overall it was a good team performance.

“The boys worked hard to get their goals and I am delighted for Greig Spence who took his goals well. But then although he was in the right place, at the right time, someone has to create them for him and that is down to the team working hard around him. The boys level of fitness has always been good since I became manager and this hard work is what gets us the reward.” Smith refuses to let his side get ahead of themselves as they get set to face Stirling Albion in the League Cup first round this weekend but he insists his side do not fear the challenge ahead of them this season.

He said, “We have beaten a team from two divisions below us and in fairness to them they were well organised but we worked well to break them down.

“This year we are going to be in a hard league but we are going to face the challenge head on.

“It is a great confidence booster but we will not get carried away as it is the first game of the season.

“We know the Stirling Albion game will be a difficult one because they have made some good signings but winning games breeds confidence and so we are looking forward to the game.” The 40-year-old former Dundee star was happy with his new look front pairing and believes there are early signs of them gelling well together.

Smith added, “Greig Spence and Liam Buchanan have not played together often and there are early signs of a good partnership forming but we are not going to go overboard at the moment.”