Elgin City put on a brave display but could not prevent a 2-0 defeat to Premiership side Hibernian in their final Betfred Cup group match.
Soft goals by Joe Newell and Florian Kamberi proved City’s undoing, with their focus now turning to their opening League 2 fixture at home to Cowdenbeath next Saturday.
City manager Gavin Price made just one change from the side which defeated Stirling Albion 3-0 last time out, with Rabin Omar back from suspension to replace Conor O’Keefe.
Hibs threatened in the early stages when Florian Kamberi struck an effort wide from the edge of the box. The visitors were not to be denied on 10 minutes however, taking the lead courtesy of a soft opener. Full back Euan Spark remained static to allow Daryl Horgan to nip behind him and square the ball for the run of Newell to prod home.
Kamberi had the opportunity to double Hibs’ lead midway through the first half with a strike which forced Thomas McHale to palm the ball behind, with the Swiss attacker wrongly denied a second goal by an offside flag after turning home Christian Doidge’s header on 40 minutes.
Elgin’s best chance of the first half arrived two minutes before the interval, when Shane Sutherland delivered towards Omar who was marginally unable to connect at the far post.
Omar had an even better chance shortly after the break after wriggling clear of Hibs skipper Darren McGregor, however his strike was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Ofir Marciano.
City goalkeeper McHale had to make decent saves to thwart Stephen Mallan and Kamberi, with Elgin denied an opening when Marciano did well to block the onrushing Kane Hester.
Hibs capitalised on another error to net a second goal on 62 minutes though. Omar’s wayward pass from midfield teed up Kamberi, who ran in on goal before calmly tucking the ball past McHale.
The Edinburgh outfit could have netted a third goal shortly afterwards with McHale doing well to block a sidefooted effort from Mallan.
