A Kyle Girvan header and a brace from Ryan Sargent ensured that Elgin City were victorious at Meadowbank. Caitlyn Gordon reports:
Two changes were made to Michael McIndoe’s starting eleven that was defeated by Annan Athletic with Max Guthrie replacing Divine Iserhienrhien up front and Erik Sul’a replacing Dylan Williams in the back line. A switch in the team’s usual approach moved Quinn Mitchell into midfield.
City created the first opportunity of the game as Malik Zaid danced around Elgin’s defence to get a clear shot on goal. However, the promising chance was saved well by Tom Ritchie. Moments later City were presented with another chance as Innes Lawson took a shot on goal. The ball ricocheted off Ritchie. who left his post in an attempt to eliminate the threat. Jason Jarvis then seized the open opportunity to attempt a strike but it was cleared away.
Elgin broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as Kyle Girvan headed in a floated cross from Dylan Ross. City almost levelled the game in the closing minutes of the half as Zaid slalomed through Elgin’s midfield and passed to the awaiting Lawson, who took a shot from outside the box, but was unable to find the net.
The visitors then scored again in the 43rd minute as Ryan Sargent slid the ball past Mark Weir, doubling Elgin’s lead.
City were on the hunt for redemption in the second half, with a chance marginally missing the net. Captain Jarvis took a shot from the left hand side but the ball went wide. In the 60th minute, Lawson took an ambitious shot from 20-yards-out that also went wide.
The visitors’ next chance in the 64th minute hit the net to put the gloss on the victory for Elgin City. Josh Walker took a shot from outside the box, but Weir parried the ball behind for a corner kick. Miko Virtanen then crossed the resulting corner into the box, finding the head of Sargent who headed the ball in.
In the final minutes of the match, Elgin came close to scoring again as Kane Hester had an opening to take a shot from the centre of the box. However, Weir did well to make the save.
Elgin left Meadowbank with all three points. The Citizens now head to Forthbank on Saturday the 28th of March to take on Stirling Albion.
