SCOTTISH League One outfit Alloa Athletic opened up a three-goal interval lead as Bala Town’s first outing in the Irn-Bru Cup ended in a 4-2 defeat at Maes Tegid.

The Wasps looked the likely winners from the start, passing their way through the Lakesiders and soon creating chances.

Scott Taggart’s inviting cross just eluded leading goalscorer Greig Spence, but the marksman was celebrating after 10 minutes, when he converted an incisive pass into the penalty box from Kevin Cawley.

The Lakesiders were struggling to settle early on, and an Anthony Stephens cross was overhit for Lee Hunt at the far post.

Two quality goals inside a couple of minutes at the end of the first half then put Alloa out of sight before the interval.

Taggart set-up Jon Robertson who fired an unstoppable 25-yarder into the top corner - and in stoppage time Spence claimed his second goal with a shot from distance that found the net via the foot of a post, to give keeper Ashley Morris no chance.

Spence went close to his hat-trick five minutes after the break with a 22-yard volley that flew just over the angle, before Stephens went close for the Lakesiders, heading a corner just over the target.

Bala got a foothold in the game on the hour when Chris Venables was brought down by Taggart and Hunt converted the resulting penalty, but the visitors quickly responded when Jordan Fitzpatrick’s back-heel was fired home by Cawley.

Spence then set-up Calum Waters who dragged his shot wide from just inside the box, before Bala again reduced the arrears when Stuart J Jones headed home a Nathan Burke free-kick at the back stick.

Alloa keeper Neil Parry denied Bala a third with a superb save from a Chris Venables header, but Spence and Iain Flannigan went close to adding further goals.

Substitute Ryan Wade sent a first-time volley for the home side just over the bar and then Venables found the back of the net in stoppage time, but he was flagged offside as the visitors, who are flying high in third position in the Scottish League One, ran out worthy winners in the end.

BALA: Morris, Valentine (Edwards 79), S Jones, SJ Jones, Stephens, Sheridan (Thompson 72), Burke, M Jones (R Wade 45), Smith, Hunt, Venables. Unused Subs: Lynch, Thompson.

ALLOA: Parry, Taggart, Waters, Gordon, Marr, Robertson, Flannigan (Martin 90), Holmes , Spence , Cawley (Donnelly 64), Kirkpatrick (Longworth 84). Unused: McDowall, Wilson.