Shire produced the first win under Craig Tully’s era with a 2-1 win over Elgin City. In a hugely improved performance from the Montrose defeat, Shire opened the scoring from a Chris Townsley header. They got their second goal when David McKenna robbed the Elgin keeper Michael Fraser and scored into an empty net. Shire would not get the clean sheet though as Elgin’s trialist Marvin Andrews header beat the keeper to score with the last piece of action.

Craig Tully made two changes from the 4-1 defeat to Montrose, with Billy Vidler and David McKenna coming in for Connor Greene and Jay Doyle, and he reverted to a 4-3-3 formation,

Shire started positively, and won three successive corners early on. The third corner was played short to Vidler, who turned his defender to pick out David Greenhill just outside the box, but he shot wide and over.

Elgin’s keeper nearly gifted Shire a goal minutes later, when Fraser brought out the ball 25 yards from goal, before kicking straight to Max Wright, whose shot from the half-way line was just saved by Fraser.

Vidler broke down the left-wing and played Wright into the box who shot over the bar, despite McKenna possibly being in a better position.

Elgin had struggled to impose themselves on the game in the opening stages, but when they had their first shot from a free-kick, they nearly took the lead. Shane Sutherland’s delivery from 25 yards was only kept out by a spectacular one-handed save from Richie Barnard.

Shire should have taken the lead in the 20^th minute. McKenna was played into the box, and Fraser came out well to save, but the ball fell to Greenhill’s whose shot was blocked by the Elgin defence. The ball spun to the far post where Steven Brisbane was, but he got his feet in a tangle and the chance was gone.

But then Shire did take the lead. Fraser came to collect Nathan Shepherd’s corner but completely missed the ball, allowing Townsley to score with a powerful header at the far post.

Elgin came close in the 35^th minute, when Brian Cameron robbed the ball of Shepherd, before breaking into the box, but his shot was blocked by Michael Bolochoweckyj’s sliding challenge.

Shire had two great chances in the final stages of the first half. Shepherd played Wright down the left-wing, who turned a defender before shooting which was deflected into the path of McKenna who shot wide of the left post. Then Brisbane broke down the right-wing, picking out Vidler 20 yards from goal, but his shot curled just wide of the far post.

Shire nearly scored 3 minutes into the second half. Greenhill’s right-wing cross was punched clear by Fraser, but the keeper was taken out by Andrews, giving Bolochoweckyj and open net, but the centre-half could only shot over.

Brisbane got down the right-wing again, and although his cross was cleared the ball fell to Vidler whose shot was saved from close range. Shepherd nearly caught the keeper out, when his cross was only just kept out by Fraser at the near post.

Elgin’s Cameron cut off the left-wing, and was given too much time by the Shire defence to decide, and his powerful shot was well saved by Barnard.

Townsley nearly scored his second goal from a Shepherd corner, but this time his diving header flashed just wide of the far post.

But then Shire did get the second goal they deserved, and it came from a defensive mix-up. Andrews passed the ball back to Fraser, who took too much time to clear allowing McKenna to tackle him and the striker then proceeded to walk the ball into the net.

Elgin started to create more chances. Daniel Moore’s corner picked out Graham Bayne, but he could only head wide of the far post.

Then came their best chance of the match from a 25 yard free-kick. It looked like his delivery would be easily saved, but the late swerve forced him to parry the ball to Bayne whose shot smashed off the crossbar, before Sutherland’s shot was deflected wide, despite the open goal.

In second half stoppage time, Elgin kept on trying to get a goal back. Moore’s corned was cleared to Sutherland 30 yards from goal, and his 30 yard shot was well saved low down by Barnard.

But with the last piece of action, Elgin did get a goal back. Moore’s left-wing cross picked out Andrews and his header flew into the top right corner.

Teams

Shire: Barnard, Kinnaird, Shepherd, Townsley, Bolochoweckyj, Brisbane, MacGregor, Greenhill, Wright (Gilmour 89), McKenna (Doyle 90), Vidler.

Subs not Used: Greene, McCabe, Shields, Kay, Shaw (GK)

Goals Scored: Townsley 23, McKenna 66.

Booked: Greenhill, MacGregor.

Elgin City: Fraser, Beveridge (Bayne 72), Finlayson (McKenzie 78), Cooper, Trialist, Cameron, Nicolson, McPhee, Moore, Gunn (Wyness 72), Sutherland.

Subs not Used: McLean, McHardy, Black (GK)

Goal Scored: Trialist 90+4

Ref: Milne

Att: 293