Elgin extended their run to 12 league matches without a victory but it could have been so different if Brian Cameron’s thunderous drive in 51 minutes had gone in rather than rebounded back off the underside of the crossbar.
Jim Weir’s side trailed at that stage to a Scott Chaplain goal after 35 minutes and two minutes after luckless Cameron’s effort, promotion-chasing Albion Rovers got the vital second, again by Chaplain, to secure the points with Marc McKenzie putting the result beyond doubt deep into added time.
Elgin’s veteran defender Marvin Andrews said: “I don’t think the score reflected how the game went.
“They had three chances and they scored three, the third goal was irrelevant as we were pushing forward to try to get something out of the game. The killer was losing two goals at very bad times in the game.
“In the second half we started well and hit the bar and it could have been a different game.
“It shows our luck is out.
“We are not getting the balance, hopefully things can change with the new manger Jim Weir coming in with a new philosophy.
“It is still a learning process for us.
“The next two games for us are at home, so is crucial we try to get something out of them.
“Jim hasn’t changed things too much but has tried to give us the hunger and desire when we go on the field and give everything we have.
“It’s all about a team game. We are down at the bottom, only we can get out of this by scrapping for everything.”
Elgin, who have the worst scoring-rate in League 2, almost went a goal behind after nine minutes when Chaplain linked well with Liam Cusack to send the midfielder darting down the right, but his driven cross just evaded Mark McGuigan.
City, who have now not recorded a victory against Rovers in their last seven attempts, responded well and three minutes later Shane Sutherland tested goalkeeper Neil Parry, who did well to hold his 15-yard angled drive low down.
High-flying Rovers, with just one defeat in their last seven league games, broke the deadlock in 35 minutes when Cusack clipped the ball over low from the right, McGuigan knocked on and Chaplain, in support, was on hand to tap the ball in from six yards out for his seventh goal of the season.
Rovers almost doubled their lead four minute after the break when McGuigan crossed to the back post for Gary Fisher, but his header from point-blank range was brilliantly pushed round by goalkeeper Michael Fraser.
Elgin burst to life and were unfortunate not to be level when Cameron’s terrific 20-yard right-foot shot rebounded back off the underside of the crossbar.
Two minutes later Rovers went two up when Chaplain swept home a Ross Davidson corner from the right from 12 yards as the hapless Elgin defence looked on. Chaplain should have completed his hat-trick in 64 minutes but his first-time angled effort was blocked by Fraser’s legs.
Fraser produced another stunning stop in 67 minutes to turn round a 25-yard volley from Davidson but Rovers added a third deep into added time when McKenzie burst free on the right and fired low past Fraser and into the far corner of the net.