Defeat for Elgin but Price won't give up on play-offs
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ELGIN City boss Gavin Price is refusing to give up on his team's play-off hopes despite Tuesday's damaging defeat against Stirling Albion.
Two spectacular second half strikes by the travelling Binos left City four points adrift of the top four having played a game more than nearest rivals Stenhousemuir.
Stenny even lost 2-1 at home to bottom side Cowdenbeath but the Black and Whites couldn't take advantage, slumping to a rare Borough Briggs defeat.
Manager Price knows a win at Stenhousemuir is the only result that can keep his team in the hunt for promotion.
“We set the guys a target, and we are not going to make that target now,” he said. “But we are by no means giving up the ghost.
“It's disappointing where we are at the moment and there were a few harsh words said in there.
“There's only one group of guys that can turn this into a positive.
“Luckily you've got a chance on Saturday against Stenny to close the gap again so you've just got to look at it that way.”
Price handed star striker Shane Sutherland his first start in 13 months, fresh from scoring as a sub in the 3-1 defeat at Cowdenbeath on Saturday.
Sutherland lasted the whole 90 minutes, hit the post in the first half and missed a late chance for the home side.
City recovered from a slow start to dictate play for spells of the first 45 minutes. Sutherland's near post flick from a Jordan Allan rattled the woodwork to give them hope going into the interval.
But all that disappeared when the home side partially cleared a corner kick but when the ball was returned into the penalty area, Stirling centre back Lee Hamilton met it full on the volley with a great finish to open the scoring on 52 minutes.
Eleven minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal.
Elgin keeper Marc Waters, recalled due to an injury to Dundee United loan teenager Brett Long, faced up to Willie Robertson's powerful kick which whistled over his hands in the centre of the goal and found the net.
The Moray side lost their way after that, and when the normally deadly Sutherland guided Calum Ferguson's nod back wide of the target from close range it was clear it wasn't going to be Elgin's night.
Stirling have now consolidated third spot and will almost certainly be in the play-offs, while City must win this weekend or their season will be over.
Elgin: Waters, Cooper, Allan, McDonald, Bronsky, McGovern, Smith (Ferguson 66), Cameron, McLeish (Byrne 87), Sutherland, McHardy. Subs: Eadie, Whitehead, Thomson, McDade, Long.
Stirling: Wight, McGeachie, Hamilton, McNeil, Barr, Moon (Dickson 82), McLaughlin, Jardine, Little (MacDonald 79), Kavanagh, Robertson (Caddis 82). Subs: Noble, Smith, Banner, Binnie.
Ref: Graham Beaton
Att: 393
Shane Sutherland speaks about his miserable year out of football in Friday's Northern Scot
