ALLOA recorded their first competitive victory of the season on Saturday with a 4-1 victory against Buckie Thistle.

Brian Rice’s side travelled to Buckie and were victorious thanks to a Conor Sammon hat-trick and a first competitive Alloa goal for Bradley Rodden.

That result, along with a 1-1 draw with East Fife last Tuesday night (and an extra point for the penalty win) mean Rice’s team sit second in the Premier Sports Cup group ahead of tomorrow night’s match against Ross County.

Rice, speaking to the club’s media channel, reflected on the first two games.

He said: “Well, I think it should have been six [points from two games, instead of five]. Disappointing to lose the goal we did [last] Tuesday night.

“But, to come here [away to Buckie] and win 4-1, it’s a tough game, it’s always tough to come here. They finished second in their league last year.

“And, to be fair, we’re six players down. We’re six players out with concussion, honeymoons, holidays and a few injured so great credit to the boys.

“An early start coming up here. We’re down to the bare bones, we’ve got the kids on the bench but [there was a] fantastic attitude and energy here so I’m really, really pleased with them.”

The Wasps went behind on the 15th minute. Daniel Church clumsily conceded a penalty and Sam Urquhart made no mistake in slotting it past Jay Hogarth.

After Cohen Ramsay misjudged his clearance, the ball fell kindly to Sammon and he calmly scored to level the score.

Church would turn provider as his cross was palmed away by Balint Demus but only into Rodden’s path and he headed into an empty net to put the Wasps back in front.

Ten minutes before the end Sammon put the game beyond doubt with another composed finish, poking the ball past an outrushing Demus before passing the ball into the net.

Four minutes later Sammon’s hat-trick was complete. Winning the ball back in the centre circle, his through ball found Adam King’s run and the midfielder’s shot was saved but only into Sammon’s grateful path and he couldn’t miss to complete a hat-trick of right footed finishes.

Rice continued: “[Sammon] was excellent today. He leads the line, he puts himself about.

“He takes a lot of knocks, but he takes a lot of knocks for the team.

“He helps the other strikers – we always play with two strikers – and he helps the other striker, whoever it may be, because he’s the one taking the brunt of the knocks and you see him chasing lost causes.

“He deserves his goals because in training his work rate is fantastic so it’s been a good day for him.”

Rice added that he hopes to have some players return from injury this week as well as Kevin Cawley, who has been on his honeymoon.

“These are things you need to put up with at part-time level,” Rice continued. “Which is fine, it gives an opportunity to some of the young kids.”

The Wasps host Ross County tomorrow night at 7.45pm, before travelling to Fife to face Dunfermline in their final group stage game at 3pm on Saturday.