Rampant Elgin City turn on the style to sink Albion... Stirling Albion arrived at Borough Briggs with the proud record of not having lost away from home in six months – this time, however, they found Elgin City showing scant respect for that achievement. From the start it was apparent that the visitors were electing to push their back line forward and frustrate City with an offside trap. Against a side with some of the quickest attackers in League 2 that proved to be a major part of their undoing. It was a tactic that worked a few times in the early stages, marginal offside calls leaving the home fans howling in anguish, notably when Craig Gunn was on the end of a fine clip into the area from strike partner Dennis Wyness. While the visitors had a lot of the ball their movement was invariably broken up by the Elgin defence. Meanwhile when the home side moved forward they looked far more threatening, so it was little surprise when they took the lead from the first corner of the match. Ally McKenzie got on the end of that at the back post, trying a left foot shot that broke from a defender – straight into the path of Shane Sutherland, who trapped with his right foot before driving into the net with his left from 10 yards out. Albion showed for a while how they had remained undefeated in away games for so long, most notably when Mark Ferry had a great chance from close in but could only steer the ball wide of target. An effort from Paul Johnston then had goalkeeper Jellema dropping to his right to block. Weatherston might also have done better when in space six yards out but only managed to blast an effort high over the bar. Jellema then had to parry away a deep cross from Johnston that was subsequently hurried away by the City defence. That was Stirling’s best spell at an end, however, as minutes before the interval the pace of the Elgin attack fully exposed the offside trap to go two goals in front. Wyness spun on the ball and sent it forward – it was met by the perfectly timed run of Brian Cameron, who despite howls of protest was clearly onside. Alongside Cameron was the ever alert Craig Gunn – keeping a perfect line with his team mate to accept the pass that left goalkeeper Crawford dead in the water and the ball in the back of the net. Half Time: Elgin City 2 Stirling Albion 0 Thoughts that City might nervously start the second half by trying to hold a two goal lead, something they had unsuccessfully done twice in recent games, were quickly dispelled. Elgin flew at their opponents who appeared to have abandoned the offside trap – but could offer little resistance to some stunning attacking play from their hosts. Half the City team were involved in a move from deep in their own half that ended with the neatest of touches from Wyness into the path of Gunn on the edge of the 18-yard box. The striker quickly controlled and blasted the ball into the corner of the net. City were well in command and another fine move almost led to a fourth. Harkins drilled through the centre before sending Gunn away on the right, his cross located Wyness who got a great volley on target only for Crawford to somehow claw it away from under his own bar. From the resulting corner the striker was unlucky yet again, Albion failing to properly clear their lines and another superb ball from Crighton found the head of Wyness six yards out – but the effort scraped over the top of the bar. Gunn’s persistence in chasing a lost cause to the corner flag almost paid off, the striker hooking the ball back into play before delivering a great shot from wide on the left that Crawford did well to turn away for a corner. Stirling were rarely seen in attack but substitute Cunningham should’ve done much better when all alone at the back post, his off-balanced effort flying over the top. Still Elgin pressed forward and Crawford was again the Stirling hero, blocking another great shot from Wyness who deserved much better for his efforts. The City veteran was thwarted yet again when he turned his marker superbly in the area, delivering a left-foot shot towards the far corner only to see the flying Crawford claw the ball wide yet again. Elgin wrapped it up with a well deserved fourth, a Jellema free kick ending at the feet of Brian Cameron. The visiting defence left an inviting gap and from 18 yards the City man accepted the invitation, steering the ball superbly into the corner of the net. FT: Elgin City 4 Stirling Albion 0 Elgin City: Jellema, Beveridge, McKinnon, Crighton, Duff, Harkins, Gunn, Cameron, Wyness, Sutherland, McKenzie. Subs: McLean, Urquhart, McMullan, Khutsishvilli, McLeod, Black. Referee: Gavin Duncan Source/elgincity.co.uk/?p=930/This entry was posted in headline, News by Stuart Crowther
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 09:36:52 +0000