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CITY showed no signs of a Hampden hangover as they swept aside Irn-Bru Third Division visitors Berwick Rangers 4-0.
The Black and Whites, handed a 6-0 drubbing by Queen's Park last week, were seldom under threat from the Borderers at Borough Briggs.
Manager Ross Jack resisted the temptation to ring the changes in defence, with Brian Cameron and Paul Millar returning to the line-up at the expense of Graeme Beveridge and top scorer Craig Gunn.
Towering striker Millar grabbed a double to repay his boss' faith, with Archie MacPhee and Stuart Leslie also netting as City closed the gap on fourth placed Annan Athletic to six points with two games in hand.
City, with the wind at their backs in the first half, dominated the early stages but were unable to capitalise on a string of Daniel Moore flag kicks.
The visitors were pretty much under the cosh from the off and survived until City at last broke the deadlock in 35 minutes.
Cameron swung over a cross from the right and Leslie's back post header looked net-bound until MILLAR stepped in to claim the opener.
The goal was no more than City deserved and they added a second two minutes later. In almost a carbon copy of the counter he notched against East Stirling, Archie MacPHEE collected the ball on the right of the box and rifled a left foot shot high past Berwick keeper Barclay.
Any fears Berwick would turn the tables after the break with the elements in their favour were dispelled in 49 minutes when City stretched their lead.
Stuart LESLIE, denied the opener by Millar, pounced to give City a 3-0 lead after Barclay spilled MacPhee's well struck shot.
The game was all over as a contest in 53 minutes when Millar rose to head Leslie's cross from the right for City's fourth.
Berwick's hopeless situation worsened on the hour mark when Kevin McDonald was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on City's MacPhee.
McDonald's dismissal effectively ended the game as a spectacle and City were able to see out the remainder of the 90 minutes without any real threat to their comfortable advantage.
The victory, the second time City have hit Berwick for four at Borough Briggs this season, will come as a timely boost ahead of a testing run of games, starting with next week's trip to Stranraer.
ELGIN CITY – Clark, Niven (Beveridge 74), Duff (O'Donoghue 62), Durnan, McMullan, MacPhee, Nicolson, Millar, Cameron, Moore, Leslie (Gunn 66). Subs not used – Calder, Wilson.
BERWICK RANGERS – Barclay, Walker, Townsley, Deland, McLean, McLaren, Notman, Currie, McDonald, Gribben (Greenhill 64), Gray (Noble 71). Subs not used – Sorley, Ponton, Thompson.
Ref – D. Roache.
Att – 438. |
