Elgin City 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 0: Black and Whites record first season win to move off bottom
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A GOAL in either half saw Elgin City pick up their first League Two victory of the season to move off the bottom of the table.
Brian Cameron's drilled strike after just four minutes was added to by Kane Hester's 25-yard effort on 82 minutes to seal an important win for City.
The Black and Whites were boosted by the arrival of Ross Draper this week – and the central defender picked up man of the match on his return to the club.
Manager Gavin Price was pleased with the victory, and said that Draper's experience helped City.
"I'm delighted for the players and everybody at the club," he said. "It was important we got there eventually.
"We have been in winning positions this season in five games out of six and it's the first time we have managed to keep a clean sheet.
"Switching off in periods has been costing us and Ross Draper's experience helped as well.
"He hasn't played since April but he cruised through the game and he's a big help to players around him, which is why we were desperate to get him in.
"If there is any criticism, it's maybe being a bit more ruthless and we could have had an easier afternoon.
"Bonnyrigg are a good, experienced side and always carried a threat – but we dealt with it really well.
"Hopefully this is a springboard now that we can build on and take confidence from."
City started on the front foot and took the lead when Brian Cameron picked up the ball in midfield before striding forward and firing low into the bottom corner from 22 yards.
It was almost 2-0 when Darryl McHardy's cutback was fired just wide by Kane Hester after a quarter of an hour.
Bonnyrigg took 40 minutes to threaten, with Robert Wilson's header from a Neil Martyniuk corner easily saved by Daniel Hoban.
At the other end, McHardy almost made it 2-0 before the break but his header from Greig Young's corner drifted wide.
The visitors' first chance of the second period also came from a corner – with the ball falling to George Hunter in the six-yard box, but his effort was blocked.
Brian Cameron's shot after Russell Dingwall's corner was saved by Mark Weir in the away goals moments later.
Elgin had a big chance to go 2-0 up on the hour mark as Kane Hester got to the byline and knocked the ball across goal – but Tom Findlay couldn't turn it in at the back post on the stretch.
Two minutes later, Matthew Cooper's ball over the top found Kane Hester, but the striker took too long when one-on-one and saw his effort smothered. Russell Dingwall's follow up was blocked behind.
City were almost punished for those missed chances when Keiran McGachie ran through on goal and squared to George Hunter – but his shot was blocked by the recovering Greig Young.
The game was won on 82 minutes when slack play at the back from Bonnyrigg gifted the ball to Kane Hester, who curled home from 25 yards with Weir out of position in goals.
City host Albion Rovers at Borough Briggs on Saturday.
Price added: "Albion will work their bums off, they always do, so we have got to be prepared for that challenge.
"It'll be a different sort of challenge so we need to be prepared to put in the work. If we do that, at home, then I hope we can win the game."
