Red Lichties feel sting of Stewart treble

Alloa fans and groundstaff worked all day to make their frozen pitch at the Indodrill Stadium playable and they were rewarded with a blisteringly hot victory over Arbroath.

On-loan St Mirren striker Ross Stewart grabbed a hat-trick for Jim Goodwin’s Wasps who have moved level on points with their third-placed visitors in the promotion chase.

The hosts led after six minutes when Leighton Mcintosh was penalised for handball and Garry Fleming converted the penalty.

Threee minutes later Stewart headed home a corner and he was on target again after 15 minutes from close range after good work by Kevin Cawley.

Blair Yule and Gavin Swankie almost scored for Arbroath before they pulled a goal back on 39 minutes when Michael Mckennanoddedinabobby Linn cross.

Alloa went in at the break 4-1 ahead when Stewart completed his treble and the visitors pulled a goal back ten minutes after the restart when Linn drove home a pass from Omar Kader.

The hosts grabbed a fifth on 79 minutes, Cawley again involved as he teed up Iain Flannigan to score from the edge of the box.

Arbroath hit back again, Danny Denholm completing the scoring by heading in a Linn cross with three minutes left.