CITY limbered up for the midweek play-off clash against Albion Rovers with an impressive 3-1 Irn-Bru Third Division victory over hosts Queen's Park.

Goals from Archie MacPhee, Jason Crooks and Jamie Duff secured the points ahead of Wednesday's first leg Borough Briggs tussle against Rovers.

The Coatbridge outfit, only promoted last season, finished their Second Division campaign with a 2-1 home defeat by relegated Stirling Albion to leave them facing a buoyant Ross Jack side in the play-off semis.

It was a much-changed City side which took the field against second place Queen's, with ever-present defender Mark Nicolson, midfielders Brian Cameron and Stuart Leslie and top scorer Craig Gunn sitting out the Hampden clash ahead of the big midweek encounter.

Jamie Duff was named as a substitute alongside Daniel Moore, who missed the last three games through injury, with Paul McMullan, Ross O'Donoghue, Graeme Beveridge and Jason Crooks back in the starting line-up.

Barry Wilson was also starting only his second game of the season, but the City player-assistant manager lasted just 15 minutes, with Lewis Halford, signed from Aylesbury United at the end of March, coming on for his debut.

By then, however, the Black and Whites had charged ahead through Archie MacPhee and they went on to open up a 3-0 lead before the Spiders grabbed a late consolation counter.

With both sides safely into the play-offs there were changes aplenty and it was an eager City side who got off to a flying start after just four minutes, with Archie MacPHEE collecting Paul McMullan's pass to finish from close range for his sixth goal of the season.

Despite losing veteran Barry Wilson to injury after just 15 minutes, City regrouped to limit the hosts to only a handful of chances. McBride and Watt went close without testing City keeper Clark as a lacklustre first half came to a close.

The action after the interval remained pretty much low-key until Jason CROOKS doubled City's advantage in 72 minutes when he fired home fine strike from the edge of the box.

Victory was all but ensured nine minutes later when substitute Jamie DUFF swept home number three from close range, but Craig SMITH grabbed a late consolation for Queen's two minutes from time with a strike from the edge of the box to deny City a clean sheet.

But City will be boosted by such an emphatic victory against the table's second best side as they get ready for the play-off challenge against Albion Rovers.

Queen's Park – Strain, Baillie, Gallagher, Meggatt, Bradley, Capuano (McVey 74), McBride, Ronald, Daly Smith 74), Watt, Burns. Subs not used – Parry, McGinn, Shankland.

Elgin City – Clark, Niven (Duff 45), MacPhee, Durnan, McMullan, O'Donoghue, Crooks, Beveridge, Millar, Wilson (Halford 15), Cooper (McLean 70). Subs not used – Black, Moore.

Ref – M Northcroft.

Att - 527.