Alloa are the team in trouble now and while eight games without a victory is a depressing enough statistic, 13 goals conceded in their last three home outings is even worse.
The visitors needed only 42 seconds to exploit yawning gaps in the home defence as Chris Gentile ambled forward from the halfway line before firing in a blistering shot from the edge of the penalty area.
A dipping half volley from Ryan Borris almost deceived Gary McGlynn after 13 minutes but Alloa were still in the hunt at that point and Ross Hamilton, David McGeown and Jose Quitongo all went close to an equaliser.
But within moments of Quitongo's 33rd minute miss, John Dillon stunned Alloa with a spectacular drive from fully 35 yards.
Substitute Iain Russell put the result beyond all doubt with a diving header from close range early in the second half and another replacement, Graham Connell, side-footed home Dumbarton's fourth goal with 10 minutes left.
Graeme Brown supplied some late consolation for Alloa with a simple header.