Elgin City started off the year poorly, with a 3-0 loss away to bottom side Peterhead who then moved up placing East Stirlingshire in last place. Â This left Elgin City in sixth position - albeit with a few games in hand - after being in the top three for a lengthy period of time! Â Their first home game of the new year was at home to now bottom side East Stirlingshire and they were keen to regain their form.
Elgin started strongly and threatened Elgin for the majority of the first half but every half chance went a begging. Â The East Stirlingshire keeper was strong and kept them in the game with plenty of last man saves adding to the frustration felt my Elgin City supporters. Â Finally, just before half time the deadlock was broken from a close range shot - much deserved!
Within minutes of the restart, East Stirlingshire began to press the Elgin City defence and cut right through when a scrappy defensive clearance mess in the box led to a handball and a penalty to East Stirlingshire. Â This came to the dismay of Elgin City manager Ross Jack who felt the original attack was offside. Â The penalty stood however and was calmly slotted away to level the scores before the break.
When the restart came, both sides began to go for it although the dominance came from Elgin City who controlled the game leaving East Stirlingshire to defend for their lives and only have a few counter-attacks. Â They were defending well and the Elgin City players decided to crack a few shots from outside the area most of which went narrowly over.
As the game neared the end, Elgin City regained the lead when the ball fell out to Elgin City's number three who thundered a volley from 25 yards on the right wing straight into the top corner. Â Borough Briggs erupted, whilst the few dozen or so East Stirlingshire fans grumbled - both sides of supporters knowing fine well this was coming sooner or later.
Elgin City continued to attack in search of a third goal whilst East Stirlingshire tried again to break them down on the counter attack. Â However a long ball through the middle which saw an Elgin City player at the receiving end one on one with the goalkeeper in stoppage time make no mistake in putting the game out of East Stirlingshire's reach. Â It remained, Elgin City 3-1 East Stirlingshire till the final whistle rung out. Â Here's hoping this is Elgin City finding their form again as they had a strong attacking presence from start to finish!
