VIDEO: New signing Dajon Golding speaks about sensational Elgin City return after ten-hour drive to shoot down Forres Mechanics with second half hat-trick
Dajon Golding says he’s thrilled to be back in a black and white shirt after making a sensational Elgin City return on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old spoke after scoring a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly at Forres Mechanics, shortly after signing a one-year deal for City.
Read more: Elgin City manager Allan Hale hails Golding return.
His treble inspired a 5-2 Elgin victory at Mosset Park, with the Black and Whites trailing at the break until half time substitutions turned the match around.
In his post-match interview above, Golding revealed how he made a ten-hour drive to Moray to play in the match.
He said he has confidence that a new-look City side can have a much-improved season to the last one, when he featured on loan from Cove Rangers for the second half of the campaign.
Injury restricted his appearances last term but Golding looks fit and ready to lead the Moray club’s front line with purpose in 2024-25.
With manager Allan Hale on holiday, assistant boss Stefan Laird left several regulars on the bench for second half action.
Last year’s Highland League player of the year, Jack Murray made his first appearance in an Elgin shirt since his move from Buckie Thistle over the summer.
However, a young Forres side with a string of trialists quickly took the game to the visitors and young City keeper Cole Taylor denied Tom Brady after two minutes, and new signing Aidan Cruickshank had the ball in his previous club Elgin’s net two minutes later but was ruled offside.
Mechanics had all the chances with Jack Grant not far away with a lobbed effort over a stranded Taylor, and it was no surprise when Calum Frame turned to fire the home side ahead just after half an hour played.
Laird responded by taking on Golding, as well as Brian Cameron, Russell Dingwall, Ryan Sargent, Ross Draper and Brodie Mitchell at the break.
The transformation was almost immediate, with Murray celebrating his first Elgin appearance by scoring with a close range header on 48 minutes.
Three minutes later Golding’s first touch took him down the right side of the box and he cut in before striking an angled drive which was deflected past Cans’ keeper Corey Patterson.
Sargent set up Golding for his second inside the closing 20 minutes and the striker cracked home a fine finish for his hat-trick, skilfully set up by fellow sub Matty Jamieson.
The goal of the game was scored by Mechanics’ Mark McLauchlan with a brilliant 30 yard blast into the bottom corner, but Sargent had the final say when he fired home his first goal in Elgin colours since his summer move from Fraserburgh.
