CITY battled bravely at Falkirk before going out of the Scottish Communities League Cup as the hosts grabbed two second-half goals.

Having lost seven goals last week at home to Arbroath, the First Division side must have harboured thoughts of bagging a few themselves on their own ground against their Third Division visitors.

But, while the hosts largely dominated play from the off, City dug deep to take the first round tie all the way before their backs-to-the-wall efforts were ended.

Manager Ross Jack's search for a new keeper for the season ended happily with the on-loan signing of Dundee's John Gibson and he made his debut at the Falkirk Stadium.

Mark Nicolson, back from holiday, was also included in the City line-up in place of injured Jamie Duff.

Former Dons striker Dennis Wyness also took his place up front, but it was to be a hard shift for the Black and Whites against the Bairns.

City survived a scary first-half, which saw experienced Bairns' defender Darren Dods replaced after just 18 minutes, and would have been relieved to still be level at the interval.

The visitors were still clinging on after the break, but hopes of upsetting the form-book took a blow in 67 minutes when Steve KINGSLEY fired home a left foot opener.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes City went in pursuit of an equaliser, but the Bairns grabbed a second through Lyle TAYLOR a minute from time to wrap up a deserved victory.

Falkirk – McGovern, Duffie, Dods (Smith 18), Flynn, Kingsley, J Fulton (D Fulton 80), Murdoch, Haworth, Sibbald, Leahy (Alston 45), Taylor. Subs not used – Bowman, White.

Elgin City – Gibson, Niven, Crighton, McMullan, O'Donoghue (Beveridge 70), Nicolson, Cameron (McLean 90), Wyness (Hallford 76), Moore, Leslie, Gunn. Subs not used – Black, McHardy.

Ref – A Crawford.

Att – 1,549.