ALLOA showed “real character” to come back from a goal down as they thumped Kelty Hearts 3-1.

The Wasps were looking to bounce back from defeat in Montrose last time out, with their performances growing stronger with each game.

Brian Rice said after Montrose that he was a great believer in good performances getting results and this is what he got today.

Tochukwu Ogayi lined up in goals behind an unchanged back three of Scott Taggart, David Devine and Josh Debayo.

Starting on the wings were Steven Buchanan and Euan Deveney on either side of Steven Hetherington and Kurtis Roberts in midfield.

Taylor Steven started in the attacking midfielder role, while Bobby Wales started up front alongside Brad Rodden who came in for the injured Ally Roy.

Kelty opened the scoring early in the match, with Reece Lyon scoring an exceptional goal to put the visitors in front.

Alloa wasted no time in responding, however, with Brad Rodden recovering from a slip to turn and fire into the bottom corner, showing great composure to bring Alloa back into the game.

He now takes the lead as Alloa’s top goal scorer in all competitions this season, with his goal against Kelty his fifth of the campaign overall, fourth in the league.

“It was a really tough game,” Rice said. “I thought Kelty played really well and we had to dig in times.

“We went a goal behind but we showed real character to get back in the game. Brad scored a good goal.

“Ally Roy got injured against Montrose and wasn’t fit to play today so Brad got his chance and he took it, scored a good goal.

“In the second half, at glimpses we played well on the ball and I think we deserved it.”

The second half proved to be cagey between both sides, with both sides having chances to take the lead.

Alloa were the ones to break the deadlock, being awarded a penalty after Bobby Wales was brought down in the box.

Scott Taggart made no mistake from the spot, smashing it down the middle to give Alloa the lead.

Kelty played well as they chased an equaliser, with Alloa required to become tight in their defending to hold onto their lead.

Steven became the man of the hour as he smashed home Alloa’s third, with the youngster scoring his first senior goal for club and career to put the tie to bed.

Rice added: “The idea is to try and score more than your opponents and we did that today. It was great to see young Taylor getting his first goal for the club, with his right foot as well.

“I thought Bobby Wales was exceptional. I don’t like singling too many people out but I thought his performance up front, for such a young lad, was really top drawer.”

Notably absent from the lineup this week was Ally Roy, who has scored two in his last two since coming in on loan from East Kilbride.

The striker had proven himself to be Alloa’s talisman of late and was a worrying absence when lineups were released.

Roy picked up a knock against Montrose, with Rice telling Advertiser Sport this was just a game too soon for him.

“He’s been out for two weeks,” he said. “He tried to train on Thursday night and just wasn’t able to train.

“We’re hopeful that he’ll manage to get some training this week but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

The win over Kelty was a huge three points for Alloa, who now face a tough couple of fixtures on the road.

Next up for the Wasps is a trip to Falkirk who sit atop of League One after a win over Stirling Albion on Saturday.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a few more back from injury,” Rice continued. “We’ve got a lot of, what you could call starters, in the treatment room.

“It’s always tough against Falkirk, they’re a full time club, they’re at the top of the league and they’re flying high.

“John [McGlynn] has got them playing really well. We know how difficult it’s going to be but it’s difficult every Saturday no matter who you play.”

The Kelty win lifts Alloa into seventh place, with the gap between them and third place a mere four points.

It’s incredibly tight in League One at the moment and if Alloa keep clocking in results like this, the gap will close itself.