CITY suffered their worst-ever Irn-Bru Third Division humbling as Alloa Athletic romped to an 8-1 victory to emphatically wrap up the championship.

Any hopes the Black and Whites harboured of stalling Alloa's celebrations for at least another week more or less evaporated as Zander Clark saw red for a third time this season....and things went from bad-to-worse from then on!

Manager Ross Jack rung the changes for the clash at Recreation Park, with Craig Gunn, Jason Crooks and Brian Cameron dropping to the bench in favour of Barry Wilson, Graeme Beveridge and Mark Durnan.

Jamie Duff and Stuart Leslie were also absentees in an unfamiliar line-up, which saw Paul Millar on his own up front.

Whatever the game-plan had been as City set about denying the Wasps a title-winning party fell to pieces after just 16 minutes when keeper Clark was sent packing for a professional foul outside the box and Mark Nicolson turned past replacement John Calder to set Alloa on their way on the half hour mark.

The home side went two up a minute before the break and the second half took on nightmare proportions as the Wasps mercilessly rammed home their numerical advantage against a disheartened and shell-shocked City outfit.

On-loan St Johnstone striker Stevie May helped himself to a foursome as City crumbled, with Paul Millar grabbing a consolation counter on a sad day for the play-off hopefuls.

The only consolation, if any can be taken from such a drubbing, is that Annan Athletic could only draw ahead of next Saturday's crucial clash at Borough Briggs.

City's new-look line-up was still finding it's feet when Clark brought down Alloa dangerman May outside his area, with McMullan being sacrified to allow Calder to replace the red-carded keeper.

The heirs apparent didn't immediately capitalise, but they made the breakthrough in 30 minutes when a cross by May was diverted past his own keeper by NICOLSON.

MAY, however, grabbed his side's second a minute before the interval as he slotted home to set up the Wasps for what was to be a second half onslaught.

Two quick-fire goals from MAY and Robbie WINTERS within five minutes of the restart sounded City's death knell and, while Paul MILLAR tapped home a consolation in 51 minutes, the Wasps stung City further as MAY took his tally to four with a double and Ryan McCORD and Craig CAMPBELL wrapping up a champagne success.

Alloa Athletic – Bain, McCullagh, Gordon, Doyle, McKinnon, Holmes (Ross McCord 70), Young Docherty 70), Ryan McCord, Cawley, May, Winters Campbell 73). Subs not used – McDowall, Masterton.

Elgin City – Clark, Niven, MacPhee, Durnan (MacLean 69), McMullan (Calder 16), Wilson, Cooper, Beveridge (Gunn 52), Millar, Nicolson, Moore. Subs not used – Crooks, Cameron.

Ref – I Brines

Att – 730

(Report by Louise Shaw)