ALLOA'S winless league run continued at the weekend with a defeat to high-flying league leaders Cove Rangers.

Former Wasps manager Paul Hartley's team ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Jamie Masson, Rory McAllister and Mitch Megginson.

It means Cove have now won five League One matches in a row and have further stretched their lead at the top.

However, for Barry Ferguson and his side, their position is much more bleak and the team are struggling.

An unchanged side from the disappointing defeat to Clyde started the match with Andy Graham sporting the captain's armband as he continues his recent revival in the team.

The first real chance of the match fell Alloa's way with the ball arriving at the feet of Mouhamed Niang. However, his strike from distance was easily dealt with by Stuart McKenzie.

Less than 10 minutes later Niang took another strike on goal but this effort was deflected. Patient build up from the Wasps saw Stefan Scougall, Scott Taggart, Kevin Cawley and Euan Henderson all involved in a move.

Eventually Henderson rifled the ball into the path of Scougall who was able to control well but, with the ball bouncing perfectly for a half volley, he instead touched it into the path of Niang but the shot was deflected. Scougall, on another day, could and probably should have smashed the ball towards goal.

However, five minutes before the interval, the hosts took the lead. Alloa's failure to control a loose ball saw Blair Yule pass it into McAllister. He was able to control the ball and roll it into the path of Masson and his first time strike was good enough to beat a diving David Hutton.

It would be less than 15 minutes after the break when Cove doubled their lead.

Unfortunately for Alloa at the moment nothing seems to be going the way of the men in black and gold. Mark Durnan appeared to show some restraint as he pulled out of a challenge in the box; however, it didn't stop Leighton McIntosh from going to ground.

After some hesitation the referee pointed to the spot and McAllister, provider in the first half, added his name to the scoresheet by sending Hutton the wrong way.

If Alloa can feel harshly done by for the second goal, they simply weren't good enough for the third.

Niang's attempt at pressing saw him dragged out of position and the ball was slotted between him and Charlie Gilmour into the feet of Blair Yule who turned and fed Finlay Robertson.

Robertson spread the ball wide to Megginson who was able to place a shot into the far post past Hutton.

The result means only Alloa and East Fife, currently rock bottom of the league, are the only two teams who haven't won a match in their last five.

However, aside from thrashing Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup, the Wasps haven't won a match since October 30 when they defeated Airdrieonians – this weekend's opponents – 2-1.

In the six matches since, Ferguson's men have drawn three and lost three, including devastating defeats to Dumbarton and Clyde.

It means the Wasps – promotion hopefuls, in their words, at the start of the season – currently sit seventh in the table.

Only their superior goal difference keeps them above Clyde and they are just two points above Dumbarton, who are second from bottom.

A tough run of fixtures now await the Wasps. On Saturday they travel to Airdrieonians before hosting Falkirk in the first match of 2022.

It's then a trip to second placed Montrose before hosting Queen's Park. Then, Celtic come to town in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Arguably a season defining period for the club, they must, at the very least, avoid defeat in all their upcoming league matches.

With their next four league matches all coming against sides currently higher than Alloa in the table, it will be devastating for Alloa's promotion hopes if all these sides increase the gap between themselves and the Wasps.

The club are just two points from fifth, which shows how tight the league is. However, results must change, and quickly, if the Wasps are serious about making the promotion play-offs.