Elgin City defeat Clyde in William Hill League Two clash at Borough Briggs to end six-game losing run and reignite promotion hopes
Elgin City banished their six-game losing run to the history books with a solid 2-0 success at home to Clyde.
A brilliant Mark Gallagher lob from 40 yards and a Russell Dingwall effort in the first half paved the way for City’s deserved success.
Elgin were without suspended stopper Kyle Girvan while Kane Hester and Lyall Booth were injured, but Ross Draper was fit enough to make the bench.
It was Clyde who made the better start, almost scoring right from kick off when Dom Docherty broke down the right and his ball across the box fell for Robbie Leitch, whose strike on goal was blocked for a corner.
In the second minute Ross Lyon played a ball forward to striker Taylor Sutherland who went clean through but Elgin keeper Aidan Glavin saved well.
Five minutes later home centre half Jake Dolzanski was caught in possession by Sutherland who again went one-on-one with Glavin but the Kilmarnock loan keeper spread himself well and blocked with his leg.
Elgin’s first effort on goal turned out to be their goal of the season contender, as Clyde keeper Jay Kennedy’s poor clearance from a pass back fell to Gallagher almost 40 yards from goal and he controlled it and lobbed over the stranded Clyde number one into the net.
Play settled down after that but Sutherland was clean through on the home goal for a third time on the half hour, and again Glavin’s legs denied the striker with a great chance.
In first half stoppage time Elgin scored a crucial second goal when Kyle Fleming took a throw from the left and reached the by-line before cutting it across goal, where the sliding Dingwall forced it home for 2-0.
The second half was scrappier with a succession of yellow cards shown by referee Colin Whyte for petty fouls.
Robbie Leitch hit the side net for the visitors after taking down an Andy Murdoch pass from deep on 55 minutes.
Ryan Sargent headed a Jack MacIver corner wide on the hour and Dajon Golding was denied by a Kennedy save from Gallagher’s low cross on 69 minutes.
Clyde forced some openings late on but Martin Rennie headed into the side netting and Glavin saved from sub Scott Williamson and Rennie’s shot on the turn to maintain his clean sheet.
In the last minute Olly McDonald was denied a third City goal by the foot of Kennedy as the home side finished in control.
Elgin: Glavin, Cameron, Dolzanski, Murray, Cairns, Gallagher (Draper 88), Fleming (Hyde 70), MacIver (MacEwan 88), Dingwall (McDonald 77), Golding (Gavin 70), Sargent.
Subs: Copper, Fraser, MacDonald, McHale.
Clyde: Kennedy, R Lyon, Howie, Dunachie, Robson (Hannah 70), Leitch (Bradley 77), Grant (D Lyon 63), Murdoch, Docherty (Connell 70), Rennie, Sutherland (Williamson 70).
Subs: Hamilton, Scullion, Hemfrey.
Ref: C Whyte
Att: 611