Elgin City hit top of League Two as manager Allan Hale praises threadbare squad
Sitting top of the table is a recognition for the efforts of an Elgin City squad that has been stretched thin.
That’s what manager Allan Hale said after a Black and Whites side without eight injured first team players hit the summit of League Two with a 2-1 win over Forfar Athletic at Borough Briggs on Saturday.
Dajon Golding’s first goal of the season put City ahead, before Russell McLean cancelled his effort out before the half hour mark.
Mark Gallagher’s winning goal on 73 minutes, combined with defeats for Peterhead and East Fife, ensured City went top of the league.
“It’s a nice feeling,” Hale said. “It’s recognition of the players’ efforts so far this season.
“The squad has been stretched as thin as possible, but we are still capable of putting in winning performances. That reflects the character and spirit within the group.
“Although it’s a nice feeling to be top, it means nothing at this stage. It’s one for the supporters to get excited about and the media to talk about, but there are 25 games to go and the league is so tight.”
Hale is dealing with an injury crisis like none he has ever encountered before - but has been delighted with the commitment and effort from his fit players during a “challenging” spell.
City are also reaping the rewards of their summer recruitment, which has ensured a squad without so many first team players can still compete at top end of the table.
He added: “Having eight players injured at one time is something I have never experienced, but the players haven’t allowed that to effect them.
“They have been working really hard in a difficult moment and it’s pleasing that we have been able to pick up positive results in the circumstances.
“The recruitment as a football club was clever and has given us a bit more depth. We have needed to utilise that with the volume of injuries we have had.
“I have been a manager a long time and you always get injuries and suspensions, so it’s important, if you want to challenge, to have a squad that is able to cope in these situations.
“The challenge is to maintain that while we work to get the injured players back.”
A lot has been made this campaign of Elgin’s undefeated streak - but perhaps the most important victory yet was the one that followed on from City’s first defeat.
Hale said that loss was “always going to come at some point” but he was pleased to win against Forfar - and delighted that Golding grabbed his first goal of the campaign.
“We knew we would lose eventually,” he said. “We don’t get too high when we win or too low we when we lose.
“Any team can beat any team in this league and results have shown that. There is not a weak team in the league and it’s tight and congested.
“For Dajon, it wasn’t just his goal - but his all round performance. We have always maintained faith in him, as have the players and supporters.
“It was a well-taken goal so hopefully he will take confidence from it. I’m confident his numbers will be fine come the end of the season.”
Elgin are unlikely to have any injured players return to the starting line-up for the visit of Clyde on Saturday. Hale is expecting a tough game - but knows Clyde will be too.
“Their new manager (Darren Young) has had two or three weeks to implement his own style and they are starting to reap the rewards,” he said.
“They got a really good result against East Fife at the weekend. When you see their squad on paper, you do wonder why they have had the start to the season they have had.
“Their squad, on paper, is probably the best in the league, with really talented players throughout the pitch and good depth is well.
“It will be challenging, but Clyde know they will be getting a challenging game from us. It’s about trying to put in a similar level of performance that we have in the last two games against them to get a result.”
Hale confirmed that Ross Draper has a tear on his quad and will be out for 12 to 16 weeks.
Such is the level of the injury troubles, he is looking at potentially adding to his squad in January.
“We are going to review the injury situation when the time comes,” he added. “It’s something we need to talk about with the board.”
