BRIAN RICE praised his hard-working team for picking up their third consecutive victory on Saturday.

George Stanger and Bradley Rodden scored the goals as the Wasps defeated Montrose 2-1.

Rice said: “I think it was a dogged performance. We’ve played a bit better, but we scored more than the opposition and that was the aim.

"I know Montrose are a good team. Since our last game against Clyde, with the Falkirk game being off, I’ve been trying to plan this game [and] how we’re going to play because I know they’re a real good team. I saw them last season, saw them this season as well.

“I knew it was going to be really difficult and it was, there wasn’t much in the game but [Bradley] Rodden again comes up trumps.”

The first half finished goalless but it didn’t take long for the second half to kick into life.

Rice continued: “Football’s normally like that, teams tire and mistakes get made through the tiredness but we’re a fit team.

"For a part-time team we’re really fit, we’re scoring a lot of late goals.

“I knew we’d keep going until the end so I just said to them we need to play forward a wee bit quicker and try to get runners up beside the strikers a wee bit quicker and that happened second half.”

The first goal came from a set-piece and Rice was delighted to see his team utilise their strengths.

“We’re a big team,” he said. “And I think when you’re a big team you’ve got to use it to your advantage.

"We work hard at the set-pieces, we work hard at our delivery, the crossing and the movement and it’s great to get another goal from it.

“It shows it works, if you put the effort in and the work in, the practice, which we have done, we’ve scored a few goals from set plays now.”

Alloa ended the match with four attacking players as they pushed for a goal and Rice says that’s the way he’ll always play.

He said: “The boys know, I’ve had this conversation with them. If we’re drawing with 10 [or] 15 minutes to go, we’re going for the win.

"I don’t want to sit back and get a 1-1, I’d rather win 2-1 and if we lose 2-1 then so be it.

"I want to go and win games, I don’t want to draw. Three points is massive for us and that three points today is a fantastic three points.

“We’re only seven games in, we’re into the cup on Friday night. One or two of the boys need game time, they’ll get game time but that doesn’t mean to say we’re treating it lightly.

"Every game we play we want to win and Airdrie are a really good team, we know that so it’s going to be another difficult game.”

Rice was impressed with Rodden’s attitude as he once again started on the bench but still came on and had a huge impact.

He said: “I said that to the boys in the dressing room, that’s exactly the attitude I’m looking for. That lad scored two goals, set two goals up [against Clyde], finds himself on the bench.

“He doesn’t go in the huff, he doesn’t moan about it. He comes off the bench and gets himself a good goal and that’s exactly the attitude that I want to see from every player.”

Stefan Scougall returned to the starting line-up but was forced off with an injury. Thankfully, according to Rice, it’s nothing serious.

He said: “It’s just cramp, he covers a lot of ground and he has a lot of the ball and he’s only got wee legs as we keep telling him.

"He’s an important player for us, he’s one of the best players in the division in my opinion.”