Betfred Cup win at Montrose puts Elgin City on top of their section and relishing their opening League 2 match at Stranraer
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ELGIN City moved to the top of their Betfred Cup section with a 2-0 win at Montrose that pleased manager Gavin Price.
Conor O'Keefe and Josh Peters both scored their first competitive goals for City in a hard-fought success over their League 1 hosts on Tuesday night.
The victory built on Saturday's home success over Stirling Albion by the same scoreline and edged Elgin above Arbroath, who were defeated 2-1 at Ross County on the same night.
Winger O'Keefe latched on to a superb Andy McDonald through pass to curl home the opener on 29 minutes.
O'Keefe then slipped the ball wide for Russell Dingwall to cross from the left, and although Peters header was deflected on to the crossbar he smashed home the rebound.
“We moved Brian Cameron slightly further forward and that seemed to work for us. It was really pleasing," said manager Price.
“It was an excellent first goal on the counter and that steadied us. We looked more confident after that.
"In the second half we were prepared. We knew they were going to come out and have a right go and they did - but I thought we created as many chances as they did."
Montrose had come from 3-0 down to force penalties against Premiership Ross County a week earlier.
County are City's next opponents in the competition at Borough Briggs on Tuesday November 10.
Before then, the Black and Whites hope to take some momentum from their winning cup start into Saturday's League 2 opener at Stranraer.
“Our bread and butter starts on Saturday," Price added. "After the midweek journey here we need to get them ready for Saturday and get them back to that intensity again.
“It’s a good group, we have had them for two years now - most of them - and we know what we are trying to achieve.
"It’s easier for us to piece that together and hopefully we can continue to do that.”
“We have only had two matches so far so it has been OK. You do treat it as part of pre-season to get ready for the league starting and hopefully we have done that and we are starting to move up a level - these competitive games help with that.
“Things are looking good so far but it’s Saturday where it really counts.”
City will welcome back striker Kane Hester from suspension, while stopper Darryl McHardy is expected to train this week after picking up an ankle injury in pre-season, and could be in the squad for Saturday.
