A FAMOUS fella from these parts once said you can’t win anything with kids. Well, he would do well to send his apologies Alloa’s way after the young Wasps made a mockery of his age-old wisdom. 

It was Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys 25 years ago and today Peter Grant’s band of January youngster, who shocked promotion outsiders Inverness Caley Thistle in a performance full of energy and bags of talent. 

In the absence of more experienced heads, teenager Scott Banks and 20-year-old Lee Connelly spent the day jinking away from the desperate grasp of the blue shirts and into the hearts of Alloa’s faithful. 

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Alloa stopper Neil Parry was in fine form as he stepped up his comeback Alloa stopper Neil Parry was in fine form as he stepped up his comeback

Connelly opened the scoring from Banks' pass and later teed-up Alan Trouten to make it two with only a goal for the latter missing to complete a perfect day in Clacks. 

For the umpteenth time in as many months, the Wasps faced-off against John Robertson’s Highlanders and they started the game in typically ambitious fashion. 

Barely a minute was on the clock when Kevin O’Hara blitzed his way beyond the visitors’ backline and turned to face an advancing cavalry spearheaded by Connelly. A curling effort might have dropped just wide, but it wasn’t long before the former Queen’s Park man had his moment. 

O’Hara was again involved, picking up a flick from Banks and perfectly weighting the ball into the channel for the Crystal Palace loanee to chase. He was only too happy to oblige. As was Connelly, arrowing his cross into the top corner from the left, albeit with a helpful nick off Brad McKay. 

Next, the ever-so slight Connelly scampered away from Shaun Rooney to latch onto Ben Stirling’s pass in yards of space. His cross was perfect for the rampaging O’Hara, who was unlucky to see his effort fly past Mark Ridgers’ post.

Inverness, for their part, are forever a threat in the box - Alloa have found out only too well more than once this season.

They certainly had incessant spells of pressure on the ball, pinning the Wasps inside their own final third as they chased the game, but the hosts stood up to the challenge. 

The welcome return of Neil Parry in his first home game since his horror injury was undoubtedly a boost. When Inverness did ramp things up, there he was, stretching his long arms into the air to coolly collect a ball into Alloa’s box time and time again. What a difference he made throughout. 

This was a day for the youngsters, however, and while Banks’ swivelling hips were the talk of the second-half, Connelly made sure to have his second big say before the break. The Wasps were awarded a free kick and he stood up, effortlessly curled it towards the back post and Trouten delightfully caressed the ball home.

Inverness were stunned. 

Any thoughts Alloa would come out in the second-half and happily defend what they had were binned when Banks’ youthful audacity took him on a waltzing run towards Inverness' box. He twisted one way and then the next, only to sting Ridgers’ palms with a wonderful effort. 

The goalkeeper was by far the busier of the two stoppers and soon had his post to thank for stopping him conceding in the most unfortunate way.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Caley Thistle boss John Robertson admitted the better side won on the dayCaley Thistle boss John Robertson admitted the better side won on the day

Stevie Hetherington crunched into a tackle and took the Wasps on the charge and Ridgers’ inexplicably dropped a Kevin Cawley effort into the path of Trouten. Somehow, the woodwork denied the veteran.

But, this was youthfulness’ day and Banks’ performance will live long in the memory. He was agonisingly denied the cherry on top when he sent four Inverness defenders back up the A9 and curled just over. 

In Clacks, it's safe to say the kids are alright.

Star man: Scott Banks