IT WAS a strong performance from Alloa as they saw off Airdrieonians in a solid 2-0 victory at the weekend.

A great header by Luke Donnelley opened the scoring in the second half before a terrific strike from Ross MacIver, who came off the bench, sealed the game for the Wasps.

Manager Brian Rice was pleased to see his men bounce back from last week's defeat with the performance showing the strength in depth in the Alloa squad.

Rice said: “We don’t build a team, we build a squad. It works as long as no one goes in the huff when they’re no picked for a game.

"Every week the subs are having an impact and it’s great when you can look over your shoulder and you have the personnel there to change it if need be.”

There were four changes to the side as well, further emphasising that strength in depth.

Rice added: “We missed Josh Stranger today he pulled out this morning as he was ill.

"Cammy O’Donnell was ill as well, so we were forced into a few changes. It shows you that the lads are bursting a gut to get in and play as well.

"It’s a good squad who put in a great effort to get the three points for us."

It was a tight game in the first half, with few chances for either side. Alloa looked the most likely, Stefan Scougal coming the closest with his well struck shot forcing a flying save from the Airdrie goalkeeper.

“I thought in the first half we played a wee bit within ourselves and needed a bit more quality in the final third, but second half I thought we were at it," Rice continued.

"We got the ball down and we passed it well and created chances, scoring two very good goals.”

The first of the two goals came in the 55th minute. It was Donnelly, a great header that found the left-hand corner following an excellent Kevin Cawley cross.

It was Donnelly’s first goal since making his return to the club at the start of the season.

A consistent theme throughout the game was that both Alloa full backs, Daniel Church and Cawley were putting in some dangerous crosses aiming for the side’s physical attackers.

Rice said: “I’ve said all along we’re a big team. There’s no point having big boys if you’re no able to find them.

"We do a lot of work on getting into the final third and crossing in, and it should pay off with the amount of work we put into it.

"I’m just delighted we got balls into the box and we got on the end of them.”

Airdrie were solid throughout and didn’t make it an easy game for the Wasps by any means. They did, however, struggle to work Jay Hogarth in the Alloa goal, who had a fairly straightforward afternoon.

The ball was in the back of the net for the second time in the 86th minute, an unbelievable strike from Ross MacIver, who picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and arrowed it into the top left corner.

MacIver said: “I had actually just got a dead leg before it so it was more to just take the anger out. I just hit it and thankfully it's went in!”

Brian Rice heaped praise onto MacIver and added: “It was a terrific strike from Ross. He was unlucky to not start this game.

"He had to come off against Dunfermline last week and I wasn’t sure about him.”

The defeat last week is Alloa's only loss in their last six games now, a very impressive run for the Wasps.

As always, the gaffer is taking it one game at a time.

“I don’t talk about runs, I don’t talk about the next few weeks, I’m only focussed on the next game," he said.

Alloa were due to take on Falkirk on Tuesday night as the Advertiser went to print in a game which could see Alloa secure a play-off spot.

Rice said: “We just need to go out on Tuesday night with the same desire we showed today and make sure not to get beat.

"The boys will enjoy tonight but we need to start looking ahead to what will be a tough game on Tuesday.”