CHARLES DIGNAN lauded Alloa’s spirit and determination as they came back from a goal down to take a point in their opening league game against Dumbarton.

Trailing 1-0 by half-time, newly appointed vice captain Hayley Preece stepped up to bring Alloa back into the match before new signing Alex Hyde scored their second.

The match ended 2-2, with Alloa taking a point from their first league match. Dignan praised the team’s fight in getting back into the match but wanted more of that energy from the start.

Speaking to Advertiser Sport, he said: “I think we started the game slower than I would hope.

“We didn’t really do the stuff we’d been doing in training – passing between ourselves, having a bit of composure and not necessarily playing the right pass but the easy pass.

“We found ourselves 1-0 down at half time and just looking very uncharacteristic to how we thought we’d go into the game.

“We go into the second half much better and we go onto win that half 2-1 but unfortunately we were already a goal down going into half time which leaves us with a draw.

“We definitely had opportunities to go on and win the game in the second half but unfortunately, we didn’t take them.

“We’ll need to take that into training this week and start to put it right and we’ll be in a much better place if we start to do that.”

Preece was recently announced as the club’s new vice captain after the departure of Molly Williams. She stepped up to score her first goal for the club to give Alloa a fighting chance in the second half.

One of Dignan’s first new signings, Alex Hyde scored just ten minutes later to give Alloa the lead.

He added: “When their backs are against the wall, they know they have to produce the goods and show the character and they do that.

“It’s just a case of doing that from minute one instead of when we’re up against the wall and we’re chasing the game.”

Next up for Alloa is their opening group stage match of the SWFL cup against Harmony Row, a good challenge against tough opposition who Alloa faced last season.

“We’re very much looking forward to that,” Dignan said. “Harmony Row won the league last year.

“They’re a very good side so keen to test ourselves against them as I believe we’re an improved side from last year.

“We’ve got new players coming into the side from last week and another few players hopefully coming in this week so will be good to test ourselves at Harmony Row.”