WATCH: Ben Barron scores a debut goal for Elgin City in their SPFL Trust Trophy win over St Johnstone B at Borough Briggs
Elgin City booked a second round tie in the SPFL Trust Trophy at home to Forfar with their first victory of the 2022-23 season.
Goals by Ross County loanee Ryan MacLeman and a debut goal for Ben Barron saw off an energetic young St Johnstone B team.
Two Elgin players were making their first appearances, with a strong Forres Mechanics connection to both.
Barron, signed last week from the Mosset Park club last week, made his first appearance in attack.
And City’s latest loan signing Connall Ewan, who was on loan to Cans from Ross County last term, took the place of player manager Ross Draper in centre defence.
The Saints kids looked sharp early on with Jackson Mylchreest heading over and Taylor Steven shooting past.
A defensive error by the visitors presented new boy Barron with a golden chance to get his first City goal but he fired too close to keeper Craig Hepburn from the edge of the six yard box.
Barron was involved in the move leading to City’s opening strike on 20 minutes, lionling with Mitch Taylor to tee up Ryan MacLeman who produced an impressive low finish from just inside the box - the Ross County loan player’s first for the club.
St Johnstone had the better openings in the rest of the half without really troubling home keeper Tom McHale.
Elgin skipper Brian Cameron went off with an injury before half time with Aidan Cruickshank coming on to become the seventh teenager on the pitch for the home team.
Barron was inches away from connecting with a fine Cruickshank cross at the start of the second period.
Cruickshank then made a good break forward and slipped a pass to Barron who claimed a penalty in vain when possession was taken from him in the box.
There was an escape for Elgin on the hour when Adam McMillan wasted a headed chance at the far post from Alex Ferguson’s dangerous cross.
Four minutes later Saints got in behind the home defence again but Steven was denied by a point blank save by McHale.
Barron completed an impressive debut by opening his scoring account on 75 minutes, heading home a Russell Dingwall cross from close-in with 15 minutes to go.
Aberdeen striker Liam Harvey could have added a third for City after bursting clear only to pull his shot wide.
Right at the end, McHale preserved his clean sheet with a stunning save from Ferguson’s long range drive.
Elgin: McHale; Mitchell, Cooney, Ewan, Cairns; MacInnes, Cameron (Cruickshank 41), MacLeman, Taylor (Dingwall 69); Barron, Harvey.
Subs: Cooper, Draper, Hoban.
St Johnstone B: Hepburn; Franczak (Shiels 78), Ellison, Klimionek, Bright; Ferguson, McCrystal, Kucheriavyi; McMillan, Mylchreest, Steven.
Sub: Thomson.
Referee: Daniel Graves
Att: 478