LUKE RANKIN popped up with the winner as Alloa got back to winning ways in the league against Stenhousemuir.

The Wasps were back on the TV on Saturday, with the BBC Alba cameras watching over Ochilview.

Two changes were made by Andy Graham from last week’s SPFL Trust Trophy win over Arbroath, with Luke Donnelly and Kane Thomson missing out and Miko Virtanen and Morgyn Neill coming back into the side.

Alloa came out the traps flying and looked to test Darren Jamieson from the off, with Steven Buchanan creating several opportunities down the right channel in the opening stages.

A flurry of early corners for Alloa couldn’t amount to anything, with Stenhousemuir defending well against the visitors.

Alloa’s shots continued to come – Kevin Cawley firing wide and Miko Virtanen sclaffing his shot far from goal.

PJ Morrison scooped up some early danger from Matt Yattes, while Michael Anderson’s shot went over the bar.

From here though, Stenhousemuir began to settle more into the match, successfully penning Alloa back in their box with their high press.

Alloa’s back line were called into action several times to close out the first half, with David McKay and Neill making pivotal blocks to deny Anderson and Matty Aitken.

PJ Morrison made a tremendous save to stop a deflected shot from finding the back of the net, seeing out the half goalless.

“We started the game really well,” Graham said. “First 15, 20 minutes of the match we were excellent.

“We looked on the front foot and really threatening but in this division if you don’t score when you’re on top, then the other team is always going to have a spell.

“Stenhousemuir, to be fair to them, were very good and we knew they’d come at us, they have a very good home record.

“We knew coming here would be really difficult but I love the character of the players and I love how much they’re willing to put everything on the line to try and get us that clean sheet.

“We’ve worked really hard on getting clean sheets and coming away from games thinking that we’ve defended really well even if we’ve not played brilliantly.

“Credit to the players, it’s not just a back four thing – PJ’s made some big saves and he’s really stepped up to the plate.”

The second half was slightly more even, Stenhousemuir perhaps nudging it, but Alloa still had their fair share of chances in the opposition box.

Luke Rankin had a shot from outside the box travel wide, while Steven Hetherington’s hit took a deflection and was safely scooped up by Jamieson.

Stenhousemuir got the break of the ball after Hetherington’s shot deflected off one of the Warriors’ midfielders and looked to charge forward, with Matty Yates, Blair Alston, Euan O’Reilly and Michael Anderson running on Alloa’s goal, with just Calum Waters left behind.

Anderson passes to Yates on the left hand side, allowing Waters to get in his way and make the block, denying Stenhousemuir their best chance of the evening.

Morrison follows it up with a brilliant save later on to keep scoring level, before Alloa found their moment of magic up the other end.

Luke Rankin carries the ball down the left channel, cuts in on his right and unleashes a shot, catching Jamieson off guard and rifling it into the bottom corner.

This would be the only goal of the game, with Stenhousemuir’s only opportunity after that coming from a Blair Alston free kick, rattling the post before full time.

Graham went on: “We always know, with guys like Luke Rankin in the team, that we just need one opportunity and he’s made that out of almost nothing.

“It’s a great piece of skill and an early hit which fools the goalkeeper so I’m really pleased with the three points.

“Calum Waters’ had a four v one and he defends it unbelievably well, reads it really well and gets the block in.

“That’s what you’re looking for from your team – in the big moments of the game, stand up and be counted and they certainly did that.”

Alloa received a big boost from their bench, with Graham managing to fill the subs list with a near full squad.

Just David Devine and Kurtis Roberts missed out through injury, while Luke Donnelly serves a two match ban for his red card against Cove Rangers.

While the bench boost will come as a relief to the gaffer, he admitted it can be a bit of a headache when it comes to team selection.

He added: “It’s giving me, actually, three or four minutes decision making time where I’m thinking ‘I could do that, I could do that’ and that’s brilliant for me.

“That’s one thing we’ve got is competition for places, the players are pushing each other, the guys are desperate to get on the pitch and do well for their team.

“Young Kane Thomson was really unfortunate to drop out this week because I thought he was excellent last week against Arbroath.

“I’ve got to pick a team that I think is going to win an individual game of football and it’s about all of them getting behind the rest of their teammates and supporting them.”