ALLAN SALVONA believes his side dropped two points on Sunday as his side returned to competitive action.

After a mid-season break, Alloa Athletic Women welcomed Stonehaven Ladies to the Indodrill on Sunday, August 7.

Goals from Cree Connell and debutant Holly McEwan were not enough to secure three points as the sides drew 2-2.

Salvona, speaking exclusively to Advertiser Sport, said: “Frustrating, if I’m honest, is probably the best way to describe it.

“I think it was two points dropped. We had a few players out but we’ve recruited well in the last few weeks, some experienced players coming in, and I think on another day we probably score six or seven goals.

“We hit the crossbar, hit the post, goalie pulled off a couple of saves and then just some [poor] decision-making.

“It was a frustrating one because we dominated the game for the majority of the time, I think we had a 10-minute lapse for the last 10 minutes of the first half and then a goalkeeping error that led to their second goal. If you’ve not got the lapse or that error then it’s a very, very different game.

“With that said, we’ve worked on a few things in training over the last few weeks, trying to be as wide as we can – particularly when we’re attacking. That worked really well for us, I think we had an unprecedented amount of corners as a result of the attacking play down the wings.

“There was a lot of positives but when you consider the score it could have been it was disappointing that we didn’t take the chances and that’s where the frustration comes in. It’s a game that got away from us.”

Salvona has recruited five players throughout the break – McEwan, Alex Hyde, Kayleigh Johnston, Heather Bundy and Linda Lay – and all five played a part on Sunday.

The manager said: “There’s a bit of strength in depth across the team now which is good.

“It’s really pleasing that we have other players to call upon.”

More players means Salvona now no longer wants to use rolling substitutes and has communicated this with the players in the hope it will encourage more competition for places on matchdays.

The Wasps play twice at home and twice away in their next four games and Salvona is targeting maximum points as a minimum from the home ties.

Ultimately, the manager is clearly excited to be back in competitive action and is expecting a positive second half of the season.

He continued: “It felt like a really long break. We actually pulled it forward, based on feedback from the players.

“The good thing is a lot of them were meeting up at the pods next to the stadium to play and keep themselves ticking over.

“It’s good just to get back to it. In the second half of the season, because we’re back in competitive football, because we’ve recruited well it is going to be a really exciting half year for the team. It’s going to allow us to really push forward.

“There’s a real buzz about being back. I think everyone’s missed it…it’s onwards and upwards for the second half of the season.”