Elgin held by bottom of the table Shire
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ELGIN City missed a chance to close the gap on the two two when they were held at bottom of the table East Stirling.
They got off to the best possible start when top scorer Craig Gunn fired them ahead in the opening minute with his 11th goal of the season.
However, Bradley Coyne levelled for the bottom side five minutes before the break.
Shire had Ally Love sent off ten minutes from the end for violent conduct after slapping sub Blair Lawrie.
Disappointed boss Ross Jack admitted it was a missed opportunity.
"I went a bit crazy at the end because I was angry for them. I know what they are capable of and what they should be achieving.
"We got off to a great start with Gunny's goal. We knew East Stirling had conceded early goals and we got at them from the start.
"However, we stepped off the gas and let them back into the game. We didn't really start playing until the last 10 or 15 minutes, although to be fair their keeper had a couple of great saves, including one unbelievable one from Paul Millar.
"When we got the ball down there was no pressure and we got a bit frantic at times. We tried to play a killer ball and just forced things a bit too much.
"It is two points dropped. We have to come away with more than a point from the bottom of the league side if we have got aspirations to win the league."
However, the result does extend City's unbeaten run to seven games and with Annan and Alloa both drawing, they did not lose any ground on the top two.
City remain in third place just six points adrift of leaders Annan and three behind Alloa.
Fourth placed Stranraer threw away a golden chance to leapfrog Elgin when they relinquished a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 with vistors Montrose.
Thoughts now turn to the William Hill Scottish Cup next weekend when City will bid to reach the fourth round when Queens Park visit Borough Briggs.
