SHIRE 1 ELGIN CITY 0

The final scoreline may not look too convincing but Shire showed more than enough to beat Elgin City at Ochilview.

Andy Rodgers’ goal in injury time at the end of the first half proved decisive but it was only the lack of a real killer instinct in front of goal that let the team down. The win, however it was achieved, still lifts Shire above Montrose in the league table and back into the promotion play-off positions.

Jim McInally was again left without the services of the injured Eddie Forrest and Dean Richardson for the second successive week. The Shire coach decided, nevertheless, to shake things up after the 1-0 defeat to Albion Rovers and that meant no place for Craig Tully.

Instead, Colin Cramb was included in a three pronged strike force with Andy Rodgers and Brian Graham. Sean Anderson moved in to the centre of defence to fill in Tully’s role, while Jamie Stevenson tucked in behind the front three in an extremely attack-minded formation.

Elgin City were playing their first game in a fortnight and were missing defensive mainstays Paul Kaczan, who was injured, and Craig Campbell, out suspended. Striker, Darren Shallicker, a threat in the past to Shire defences had to make do with a seat on the bench.

Shire were hoping for an early breakthrough and almost had it on two minutes when Brian Graham beat the Elgin offside trap but he was far too anxious to shoot and his 20 yarder went well over the bar.

After six minutes Paul Weaver played a great pass which set Craig Donaldson free but his eight yard shot was too close to Elgin keeper McNulty, although the goalie’s save was none too convincing he managed to put it behind for a corner,

But there was a let off just two minutes later when the league’s bottom team ought to have to taken the lead after eight minutes.

Rodgers gave possession away cheaply and the ball was transferred quickly to Wright whose cross was met perfectly by the unmarked Jason Crooks but his header came back off Mark Peat’s left-hand post and was eventually cleared.

Elgin were always keen to have a go and after 15 minutes Gillespie cracked a shot from 20 yards across goal and wide. On the 20 minute mark Stevenson was fouled 25 yards from goal but Cramb’s free-kick was too high.

Ten minutes later Graham got in behind the Elgin defence and raced in on goal but his cut back from inside the box failed to find a Shire man  After 33 minutes Stevenson fired in a powerful drive from 20 yards which fizzed past the keeper’s right-hand post.

There was another real let off for Shire on 37 minutes when Anderson’s mis-cue let in Wright whose half-volley produced a great full-length save from Peat. Less than a minute later Rodgers was clean through with only McNulty to beat but his first touch was poor and took the ball away from him, which allowed the visiting defence to clear.

In injury-time at the end of the first half Shire did eventually take the lead. Graham broke the offside trap down the left and rolled the ball along the 18 yard line. Cramb dummied the ball at the near post and Rodgers collected before shooting low past McNulty from ten yards.

Elgin boss Ross Jack made a half-time substitution, taking off the uncomfortable-looking McNulty  with Ally Ridgers. But it was at the other end that Elgin showed up with a great shot from MacKay that flashed just wide of the target.

The replacement keeper was almost embarrassed by Stevenson on 56 minutes. The on-loan Morton man hit a lob from inside his own half which had the visiting keeper scrambling to guide the ball over the bar.

Paul Weaver then fired two great efforts from around the edge of the box and Brian Graham forced Ridgers to block a fierce drive at his near post.

But for all Shire’s chances they still looked vulnerable to Elgin’s periodic breaks and on 67 minutes there was another lucky escape when Wright whipped over a cross which Crooks hit goalwards and Michael Bolochoweckyj was forced to hook the ball off the line.

After 70 minutes Graham’s run down the left ended with a cross which Rodgers met at the back post but his header went wide of target. That was Rodgers’ last action of the match as he went off to be replaced by Marc McKenzie.

While they were only a goal behind Elgin always felt they were in with a chance of finding a levelling but Mark Nicolson sent a MacKay corner kick wide of target with a free header.

Shire were always dangerous when going forward but couldn’t turn that possession into goals. The best chance fell to Graham in injury-time but he couldn’t find the net with a free header after a great cross from substitute David Dunn.

SHIRE : Peat, Hay, Ure, Anderson, Bolochoweckyj, Weaver(Kelly 90), Donaldson, Stevenson, Cramb(Dunn 85), Graham, Rodgers(McKenzie 79).

ELGIN CITY : McNulty(Ridgers 46), Jack, MacDonald(Smith 76), Munro, Nicolson, Crooks, Gillespie, O’Donoghue, Wright, MacKay, Craig(Shallicker 63).

REFEREE : R. Madden.

ATTENDANCE : 489.