ELGIN CITY 3 SHIRE 0

A disastrous ten minute spell at the start of the second half cost Shire the chance of taking something from the long midweek trip to Elgin City.

Jim McInally’s depleted squad had stuck to their task in the first half, frustrating their hosts while having some decent opportunities themselves, and at least deserved to go in at the interval all-square.

But as soon as Paul Kaczan had shot Elgin City into a 53rd minute lead there seemed no way back. Four minutes later Darren Shallicker had doubled Elgin’s advantage and after another six minutes Craig Frizzell had made it three.

Shire could easily have buckled but, to their credit, they stuck gamely to their task and at least prevented Elgin scoring any more.

The Firs Park coach, with so many players either injured or suspended, cobbled together a side that, on first inspection, seemed designed for safety first, with five at the back. With no Andy Rodgers and no Joe Savage either, the two-pronged attack consisted of Paul McBride and skipper Andrew Brand. Craig Donaldson and David King won a recall to the starting eleven, having missed out in the weekend game against East Fife.

Another of Saturday’s subs, Stephen Oates, was restored to the line-up as well but he was in trouble straight from the kick off and was relieved to see Frizzell shoot straight at Gary O’Connor inside the first 20 seconds after he was short with a header back to his keeper.

But Shire were full of early attacking intent too, and before long a Derek Ure shot was kicked off the line by Elgin keeper, Andy Ridgers. After eight minutes a long throw-in from Scott Gibb found its was to Brand on the edge of the box but his effort whistled narrowly over the crossbar.

Shire should have had a penalty after 14 minutes when Paul McBride was fouled by Niven,  but referee Freeland refused to accept the foul had been committed inside the box and instead gave a free-kick on the other side of the line which Kevin McBride hit into the defensive wall.

After 23 minutes Paul McBride set up Ure for another effort at goal but again it went just over the bar. Shire were giving as good as they were getting but there was a lucky escape on 41 minutes when Shallicker crossed for Zander Sutherland who somehow managed to balloon the ball over the crossbar from inside the six yard box.

Marc McKenzie replaced Gary Kelly at the start of the second period but Shire were quickly on the backfoot and, before long, fell a goal behind. A 53rd minute free-kick was needlessly given away on the left flank and was whipped into the box by Frizzell, flicked on at the near post by Shallicker and eventually hooked into the back of the net by the unmarked Paul Kaczan at the back post.

Four minutes later there was worse for Shire to suffer. This time Frizzell got in behind the defence and chipped the ball to the back post where Shallicker was waiting. He juggled it before bringing the ball under control and hitting a low half volley past O’Connor.

After 62 minutes the visitors’ misery was complete. Frizzell was again the instigator, knocking the ball past David King and trying to continue his run. The Shire defence hesitated, believing Shallicker, who was ahead of Frizzell, to be offside. But referee Freeland indicated Shallicker was not interfering with play, and the alert Frizzell collected the ball amid the Shire confusion, rounded the exposed O’Connor, and planted it into the empty net.

Shire, to their credit, kept plugging away. Paul McBride hit the crossbar with a half-volley not long after. Donaldson tried his luck from long range and a ball out of defence sent McKenzie racing clear but his shot went across the face of goal and wide. Anyway, by that time it was a case of too little, too late.

Elgin City : Ridgers, Nicolson, Campbell, Niven, Kaczan, Gilbert, Sutherland(Ross 81), Hind, Shallicker(Crooks 79), O’Donoghue(Smith 75), Frizzell.

Shire : O’Connor, Gibb, K.McBride, Oates, Bolocochewckyj, King, Donaldson, Kelly(McKenzie 46), P. McBride(Thywissen 77), Brand, Ure.

Referee : A. Freeland

Attendance : 357.