AS FAR as first opponents go, it couldn’t have been much harder for Brian Rice than Cove Rangers.

Cove, the league leaders, last lost a league game on October 16. In the time since they have been on a 16 game unbeaten league run, picking up 38 points in the process.

By contrast Alloa – since October 16 – have won just three games and picked up 17 points.

When Rice was unveiled as the latest manager of Alloa Athletic, his instructions were simple: work harder than the other team and don’t leave the pitch with any regrets.

On Saturday, his side’s only regret will be that they didn’t take three points from Paul Hartley’s side.

Fresh off the back of a 2-1 victory over Dumbarton and after two sessions with Rice, Alloa set up in a new look system.

Mark Durnan, Andy Graham and Scott Taggart sat in front of David Hutton while Kevin Cawley and Daniel Church were in the wingback roles.

In the middle of Cawley and Church was Mouhamed Niang and Adam King. Stefan Scougall played in the middle of the park behind a front two of Steven Boyd and Conor Sammon.

The move worked. Alloa came flying out the traps and were too much for Cove. In the opening minutes Alloa were too quick and too strong. They were winning second balls and playing forward. Taggart was overpowering Megginson every time.

Just after five minutes were played, Alloa took the lead. Boyd’s free kick wasn’t cleared by Cove and Niang jumped higher than the rest to loop the ball over and into the path of Graham, who stretched a leg out and poked the ball past Stuart McKenzie.

The Wasps might have had a penalty on another day when Scougall appeared to be fouled by McKenzie. A long ball forward bounced into the box and the goalkeeper jumped to punch it out of danger and wiped Scougall out in the process. Thankfully he was alright but there were brief appeals for a spot kick.

Another chance fell for Durnan from a corner kick but the defender, who has a decent scoring record this season, couldn’t put his effort on target.

Less than 20 minutes were on the clock when Alloa doubled their lead with a great move. A switch of play found Cawley who was able to pass into Scougall’s direction. Unmarked, Scougall was able to cut inside and find Sammon who then passed the ball along the line to Boyd. Showing excellent composure, Boyd chopped back onto his right foot, leaving Fraser Fyvie and the goalkeeper in no man’s land, before side footing the ball into the net.

Another good chance fell into Sammon’s lap minutes later as he controlled King’s header and volleyed towards goal but the effort was tame and goalkeeper collected easily.

Alloa’s attackers were causing Cove real problems. Durnan received the ball with plenty of time to find a pass. As Boyd came short, Scougall ran in behind and Durnan clipped it into his path. Unfortunately the ball bounced on Scougall’s weaker right foot and he volleyed over the bar.

For all of Alloa’s domination, Cove still posed a threat. As they finally started to enjoy more possession of the ball, a deadly cross was whipped into the box and Jamie Masson headed against the post.

Hutton was then called into action for the first time in 40 minutes and made himself big to block Masson’s header at the back post.

Alloa started the second half just as sharply, with Niang and Scougall working hard to win the ball back. Niang drove forward and found Boyd but the former Peterhead man’s effort was tame and Sammon couldn’t react quick enough to get a touch on the ball.

With Alloa two goals to the good and Cove struggling for ideas, the Wasps gave their former manager a crumb of optimism. Jon Robertson, on the pitch for less than five minutes minutes, was shown a straight red card for a high boot on 16.

Cove smelled blood and started heaping the pressure on the Wasps. Fotheringham should have halved the deficit but for a great challenge by Durnan who blocked the shot onto the crossbar.

Eventually Alloa’s resolve would be broken as Ola Adeyemo scored for the visitors after outjumping Church.

With less than 10 minutes to go Alloa went looking for that third goal. Niang played a great ball wide to Boyd and he was able to drift into the box however he couldn’t make the most of the counter and gifted Cove possession.

Eventually Cove’s pressure resulted in an equaliser. A clipped ball into the box wasn’t headed clear by Graham and it bounced into the path of Rory McAllister. Cawley’s outstretched leg couldn’t get to the ball and the marksman prodded the ball past Hutton.

Before kick off a point from the league leaders would have been a good result however this was certainly two points dropped. On a positive note there was enough in this performance to give Alloa hope for the rest of the season and, with a decisive run in incoming, more performances like Saturday’s will be required.

ALLOA: Hutton, Durnan, Graham, Taggart, Cawley, Church, Niang, King (Robertson), Scougall (Riley-Snow), Boyd, Sammon (Armour). UNUSED: Burt, Mendy, Armstrong, O’Donnell, Howie