Elgin City suffered a miserable 4-0 League 2 defeat by a ruthless Albion Rovers at Borough Briggs tonight.
Scott Chaplain’s double and goals from Mick Dunlop and Gary Phillips saw Rovers win by a comfortable margin. However, City had created chances that could have brought about a different game altogether had they been converted.
Elgin manager Barry Wilson made two changes from the side defeated 2-1 by Clyde on Saturday, with veteran forward Dennis Wyness replacing Daniel Moore, while Graeme Beveridge came in for Darryl McHardy.
Wyness looked to make an early impression, unleashing a 20 yard shot after 90 seconds that Neil Parry did well to save.
Rovers took the lead on five minutes when Alan Reid’s looping cross picked out Chaplain, whose header had too much power for City goalkeeper Michael Fraser.
Elgin went close to a response just seconds later when Wyness was sent through on goal but Parry got down to thwart him as he tried to round the goalkeeper.
On nine minutes, Wyness thought he was picking his spot when Archie MacPhee’s inch-perfect cross picked out his head at the far post, only to be denied by an outstanding save by Parry.
City certainly didn’t deserve to be one goal down but just a minute later they found themselves trailing 2-0.
A corner forced Fraser off his line to beat clear. However, the ball only reached Dunlop, who initially looked to have mishit his effort, but it found its way into the far corner to give the hosts a mountain to climb.
Rovers were forced into a change when player-manager and former Aberdeen midfielder Darren Young limped off injured to be replaced by Ciaran Donnelly.
However, the absence of the Coatbridge side’s most experienced player didn’t affect them as Rovers made it 3-0 on the half-hour mark when Chaplain dispossessed Matthew Cooper on the halfway line before running in to slot his second past Fraser.
Parry made fine stops to deny Gordon Finlayson and Wyness, however, Elgin were unable to pull one back prior to half-time.
Elgin were inches from finding the net on 50 minutes when Craig Gunn flicked Marvin Andrews’ knockdown off the underside of the bar, following MacPhee’s corner.
Gunn was presented with an opportunity after being played through by Beveridge but his loose first touch allowed Parry to smother.
Rovers’ clinical finishing continued on 56 minutes as they netted their first attempt of the second half.
A corner was cleared only as far as Phillips, whose half-volley trickled past Fraser to secure a 4-0 Rovers victory.