Elgin City crash to back-to-back defeats in William Hill League 2 as Stirling Albion pick holes in depleted Black and Whites’ defence
Injury-ravaged Elgin City suffered their first home defeat of League 2 season as a makeshift side went down to a slick Stirling.
Allan Hale’s side started with eight players missing but were able to field both Kyle Girvan and Mark Gallagher from the start despite going off injured in the defeat at East Fife last week.
He fielded ex-Caley Thistle, Queens Park and Bonnyrigg Rose defender Calum Haspell at centre back as a trialist.
Ricky Waugh fired just past for the visitors in the early stages and it was half an hour into the game before the first corner kick was earned by Elgin.
Few could have expected a burst of four goals before half time, triggered by a penalty award for City on 32 minutes.
Dajon Golding dispossessed Josh Kerr in his own box and earned the foul, with Russell Dingwall confidently firing the Black and Whites ahead from the spot.
Their lead lasted just five minutes as Adam Brown picked up possession on the edge of the box and found space for a superb drive just inside the left hand post.
Stirling then won a corner on 42 minutes and Brown’s inswinging ended up in the net with trialist Haspell getting the final touch for an own goal.
Brown caused even more damage for the home team in the final minute of the half, firing home Stirling’s third from ten yards after good work by Dale Hilson on the right.
It was a collapse that came totally out of the blue but highlighted Elgin’s makeshift defence losing their way for a crucial spell.
Gallagher went off at the break and Ryan Sargent was withdrawn as well, with Owen Cairns coming on at right back to push Brian Cameron into midfield and Dylan Gavin increased the attacking options.
Lewis Hyde tested Albion keeper Derek Gaston with a near post flick from a Kian Leslie corner ten minutes after the break.
But it got even worse for City when Dale Carrick fired home from close range after a scramble broke out from another Brown corner on 57 minutes.
Elgin were at sixes and sevens, escaping further punishment when Carrick turned to rifle a great effort off the right hand post.
Home keeper Aidan Glavin then produced a fine save to deny Erik Sula as it became damage limitation for the home team.
They did get a goal back 15 minutes from time when Golding met a Gavin right wing cross at the back post and nodded across Gaston and in off the opposite post.
But there were precious few other opportunities for the Moray men and no way back as Stirling comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to end their own five-game losing streak.
Elgin: Glavin, Cameron, Trialist, Girvan, Booth, Gallagher (Cairns 46), Hyde (McDonald 65), Leslie (Fraser 90), Dingwall, Sargent (Gavin 46), Golding (MacDonald 90).
Subs: Parton, Taylor.
Stirling: Gaston, McGeachie, Kerr, Sula, Harkness, Brown, Knox, Waugh (Graham 89), Crane (Davidson 72), Carrick, Hilson (Roy 77).
Subs: Cant, McKinley, Weir, Wright, Dall, Smith.
Ref: G Soutar
Att: 873