City suffered only their fourth defeat in eleven competitive games on the road this season as Berwick Rangers took advantage of their numerical advantage, both goals in a 2-0 win for The Borderers coming after Black and Whites captain Paul Kaczan was controversially sent off.

The decision by referee Watters to brandish a straight red card on 54 minutes after Kaz’s firm challenge on Stuart Callaghan on the half way line frustrated City and bamboozled both sections of the small Shielfield crowd of 368. The hosts then assumed the ascendancy and struck their first goal ten minutes later when Andy McLean headed Paul Currie’s cross towards goal and the ball squirmed through a ruck of players and into the net.

City themselves had been unable to string together successive passes for the most part and were limited to few clear-cut attempts at goal. Craig Gunn, playing mainly on the right flank with Craig Frizzell starting as a lone striker, had a couple of opportunities but, in the best chance for City to score, could only shoot straight at goalkeeper Mark Peat as he diverted Kyle Macaulay’s strike at goal.

City threw on substitutes Jason Crooks and David Calder with twenty minutes to play, but neither were able to get on the ball to make much of an impact. As Elgin chased an equaliser, Berwick swept forward on the counter attack, the impressive three of Alan Brazil, Andy McLaren and Ian Little combining for the latter to head in a last-gasp second.

City were unable to make much of an impact in an insipid game on a dreich day in England. Second placed Berwick, meanwhile, were far from impressive and served to show that top of the table Livingston, still four points clear at the top after beating Stranraer 3-0, are by far the league’s best team after finally finding their form.