Elgin City reaction from their home defeat to Edinburgh City in the first leg of the League 1 play-off semi-final as boss Gavin Price and defender Darryl McHardy refuse to surrender
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DISAPPOINTMENT turned to determination in the Elgin City camp after Saturday's 1-0 play-off defeat to Edinburgh City.
With the second leg to be played in the capital on Tuesday night, City manager Gavin Price and centre back Darryl McHardy are not about to throw in the towel.
McHardy saw his attempted clearance blocked by Edinburgh striker Ouzy See and fall kindly for Josh Campbell to fire home the only goal of the game at Borough Briggs.
Fresh from signing a new two-year deal for City, McHardy wants to put things right in the rematch in Edinburgh.
"I’ve been waiting for a while and had to prove I’m good enough to get a new two-year deal," he said.
"So I’m just glad to get it now and to concentrate on the play-offs.
"We will go again on Tuesday and I want to go out there and prove why they gave me a contract if I can get a goal or a clean sheet, and we can still go through.
"I’ve had two years of bad injuries but I’m now back and enjoying it and I feel like I’m getting fitter and fitter each week.
"I just don’t want the season to finish just as I’m getting back to my best, I’m hoping we’ll have more games to play."
There was more fighting talk from manager Price in spite of the frustrating result.
Price was vociferous during the game in his criticism of referee Alan Newlands, who made some baffling decisions at times.
"Over 180 minutes there’s going to be ups and downs in this tie and refereeing decisions that don’t go for you, and little breaks," he said.
"You’ve just got to accept that’s going to happen over 180 minutes but hopefully it turns it round in the second leg.
"We’ve got to keep being positive to get breaks, and by getting players into the box you will get the break of the ball but only if you’ve got the numbers to do it."
"But if we keep positive we’ve got to believe we can still win the tie.
"We know we can do this, it’s 90 minutes away from a final so we will be giving it everything we can to get there."
