Elgin City held by Stranraer in League Two opener
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THE spoils were shared at Borough Briggs in a 1-1 draw between Elgin and Stranraer to kick off the league season.
Elgin boss Gavin Price handed the goalkeeper’s shirt to Daniel Hoban ahead of regular Tom McHale.
Hoban’s goal was under pressure from a series of attacks by Stranraer, who looked lively as Elgin took time to settle.
Josh Walker’s curling effort just past on 11 minutes was the closest to a goal in the early stages of the game.
Hoban got a fingertip to a curling Sean Burns effort on 19 minutes, before Walker wasted a free header seconds later when Burns picked him out in splendid isolation ten yards out.
City’s first telling raid saw Kane Hester denied from a tight angle by keeper Curtis Lyle on 22 minutes.
But from the resulting corner by Tony Dingwall, Darryl McHardy rose unchallenged at the near post to nod home and give Elgin a slightly undeserving lead.
A pacy burst by Stranraer’s Dean Yates threatened a goal but a crucial Matthew Cooper challenge in the six yard box averted the threat on 35 minutes.
Cooper limped off five minutes later to be replaced by Rory MacEwan, with Angus Mailer filling in at right back.
Hester volleyed over from an Archie Macphee corner a minute before the break, a difficult chance at the far post.
Stranraer looked really fired up at the start of the second half and deservedly levelled the scores on 55 minutes.
A cross from the right by Sean McIntosh was met by a floating Grant Gallagher header which beat Hoban all ends up.
Matt Yates was denied twice in quick succession for the visitors, with his shot deflected over then a second effort from the corner blocked in front of goal.
Elgin were under the cosh but a breakaway attack created an opening on the edge of the box for Archie Macphee, which he fired narrowly past.
In the final ten minutes, some inspiration came from Hester who crossed for sub Josh Peters tpo nod straight at the keeper.
Hester then sped through the centre and let fly from the edge of the area but Curtis Lyle was equal to his effort.
With six minutes left, Russell Dingwall bustled into the area and his shot fell to Hester, who spun and drove for goal but Lyle again made the save.
Right on time Elgin had two chances in quick succession.
Sub Conor O’Keefe burst down the left and his low cross was bundled just wide by Hester.
Hester then broke through and chose to tee up Peters but his effort flew over the target and with it Elgin’s last chance of victory.
Elgin: Hoban; Cooper (MacEwan 40), McHardy, Little, Spark; T Dingwall (Peters 60), R Dingwall, Mailer, Macphee, Sopel (O’Keefe 60); Hester.
Subs: Lawrence, Allen, Nicolson, MacBeath, McHale.
Stranraer: Lyle; McIntosh, Ross, Robertson, Burns; Woods (Rennie 74), Walker (Langan 85), Gallagher, Miller, Hawkshaw; Yates (Moore 81).
Subs: Scullion, Sonkur, Irving.
Ref: Lorraine Watson
