Brechin City boss Darren Dods was able to savour a derby day defeat of Angus neighbours Forfar Athletic that closed the gap at the bottom of League One.
But for the Loons it was a day to forget as the home side slumped to another lacklustre performance and finished the game with just nine men.
City deserved the three points having defended well and attacked on the break when it mattered, Andy Jackson taking almost immediate advantage of the extra man after Forfar’s Darren Young was sent off for a second booking.
Thomas O’Brien followed him in seeing red deep into stoppage-time for a kick at Dods.
“We sat in with our game plan and made it difficult for them,” Dods said, agreeing that his side fully deserved their win.
“We tried to hit them on the break, especially with Isaac (Layne) coming in with his power and pace.
“He will cause the centre halves problems, especially in this league, so we are grateful to Alloa for letting him come.
“He is here till January so with Dean Shields being out he gives us options up front.
“But having Isaac in there makes a big difference and he can support Andy Jackson. You could see that with his great through ball to Jackson and if he gets those chances, he will finish.
“It was important to defend well too as in previous games we have let it slip now and again.
“But we battled when we had to and it was good to see that intensity today.”
The former Loons defender added: “We have just got to keep looking upwards and taking each game as it comes and get a result and points when we can.
“But that will be good for confidence today.”
Loons manager Dick Campbell admitted that things have to change for his side following their slump in form.
“It was a very silly sending off for Darren Young and I didn’t see the second one. But I thought the referee had a very poor game,” he said.
“It was going to take a goal like that to win the game but I don’t think we played well enough to take anything from it.
“The buck stops with me so I will have a look at the whole situation.
“The quality was lacking and at the end of the day there is something wrong here.
“We need to try and fix it and I’m the guy who can fix it.”