BRIAN RICE believes Alloa didn’t deserve to lose on Saturday but praised his players for their desire and commitment.

The Wasps were defeated by a Calumn Morrison strike that was enough to split the two sides.

Rice said: “I thought it was a great performance, I thought there wasn’t a lot between the teams. It’s took a very, very good strike to beat us.

"The lads gave it everything from the first minute until the last. [In the] second half we were at it, lots of possession, lots of balls going into the box. It just wouldn’t fall for us.

"I said to them [in the dressing room] that I can’t ask for any more from them. they gave it absolutely everything trying to get the goal back. We threw everything at it, just couldn’t get the goal back.

“[We were] always going for it and we were never out the game. Like I say, it’s took a really good strike from Morrison, who we know can finish. It’s a good strike from them.

"I’m disappointed to lose the game but definitely not disappointed with the performance.”

Rice also praised his players for their effort against a full-time side.

He said: “It plays a little bit of a part, we know the difference between full-time and part-time but I don’t think you could see the difference between the full-time boys and the part-time boys.

"Like I say, it was just that wee bit of quality in the end or something falling for us, a wee deflection or something like that [that was missing] because they put so much into the game. I don’t think we deserved to lose the match.”

Results elsewhere means Alloa are now out of the play-off spots but Rice insisted they’re not out for good.

He said: “Only [out] on goal difference. It’s so tight and this league’s so difficult.

"Look at the results [elsewhere] and it shows you what a great league it is.

"We’re in there fighting and we’ll be fighting until the end.”