Last minute winner sees Elgin go through
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ARCHIE Macphee was Elgin City’s last minute Scottish Cup hero as they defeated Lowland League visitors Spartans 1-0.
The Edinburgh side looked to be holding on for a deserved replay until left back Macphee popped up with a last gasp header to convert Craig Gunn’s left wing cross.
Macphee admitted: “That was a tough game, but we knew it was never going to be easy. It’s always a great feeling to win it in the last minute.
“We just had to have belief in ourselves to go and win the game and we did it.
“It was a great ball in from ‘Gunny’ with a lot of pace and all I could do was guide it towards the goal and thankfully it went in off the bar.”
City, without loan trio Mark Hurst, Liam Gordon and Kyle MacLeod plus injured captain Jamie Duff, looked nervous I the first half as they tried to end a run of five games without a win.
New signing Dylan Easton in his first start for the club went close with a free kick, but there were precious few openings for either side.
That changed after the break as the tie opened up, though Elgin were fortunate not to go behind when an Aaron Murrell header hit the bar for the visitors.
Daniel Moore’s free kick clipped the woodwork at the other end and Easton forced a fine save out of keeper Blair Carswell from 25 yards.
Murrell had an effort deflected inches past for Spartans, but City stepped up a gear after brining on Connor McLaren and Ceiran McLean as late subs.
They combined for a great chance on 82 minutes and McLean looked sure to score until the efforts of a defender and the goalkeeper saw his shot deflected just off target.
Carswell once more saved well from Mark Nicolson’s piledriver free kick and it looked like going to a replay until Macphee sparked wild celebrations with his 89 minute winner.
City boss Jim Weir said: “In the early round of the Scottish Cup it’s important to make sure you get into the next round and we managed to do that.
“Credit to our guys for keeping plugging away right until the end.”
Elgin: Black, Cooper, Macphee, McHardy, Nicolson, Reilly, McKenzie (McLaren 81), Cameron, Gunn, Easton (McLean 76), Moore (Halsman 85). Subs: Bruce, Duff, Storrier.
