Mark Hurst, the on-loan St Johnstone goalkeeper, was devastated to see Elgin City’s promotion hopes dashed, but believes they deserve credit for mounting a wonderful challenge this season.
The 20-year-old, an impressive performer throughout good parts of the campaign, felt City were the better team in the play-off semi-final, but paid a hefty price for failing to take their chances.
Hurst refused to rule out another season on-loan at Borough Briggs, where he believes he has come of age and crested a sharp learning curve in first team football.
A downbeat Hurst said: “I’m disappointed to go out the way we did, we all are. I felt we were the better team over the two legs.
“They just took their chances when they came along.
“But we’ve had a good season and the manager deserves credit for the way we’ve come together and improved as a team.
“I feel I’ve developed as a player at Elgin. It’s been a good learning curve for me and a great club for me to play for, so I’ve enjoyed it.
“It was a good achievement to finish second and get into the play-offs and it was good to play games every week at first team level.
“We’ve not really spoken yet about next year at St Johnstone. I’ll probably go out on loan again next year, but I’m not sure.
“I’ve got two years left at St Johnstone so, hopefully, I can prove myself. I’d like to challenge myself in a higher league, but have to be patient and see what the club wants.”
Hurst, whether he returns to Elgin or not, will cherish the memories from his time in the north.
He said: “It’s been a long, tough season. In January, we were up at the top of the league and we felt we could win it but it wasn’t to be. I felt I played my part and I’ve really enjoyed it at Elgin.
“The manager Jim Weir was saying how much Elgin have improved over the last couple of years and his feeling is, hopefully, they can push again and win it next year.”
Clyde made the brighter opening but Elgin were denied a 12th minute penalty appeal after Jordan Kirkpatrick’s challenge at the corner of the box on Kyle MacLeod.
Soon after, Elgin suffered a setback when midfielder Dylan Easton limped off with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Steven Ross.
Elgin left back Archie Macphee linked up superbly with Daniel Moore on the left to force a strong parry from Clyde goalkeeper John Gibson who also palmed away another effort by City’s other full back Matthew Cooper three minutes later.
And in first half added time, Elgin blew a great chance to go ahead when substitute Ross played a one-two with Brian Cameron and raced through on goal, only for Gibson to again divert the final shot away.
Dave Gormley should have put Clyde ahead from a Scott Linton corner on 53 minutes but his glancing, close-range header skimmed wide of the mark. But the Bully Wee’s pressure was rewarded on 63 minutes when Kirkpatrick’s 30-yard free kick curled high past Hurst to break the deadlock.
Elgin went down to 10 men on 76 minutes after MacLeod was stretchered off with the head knock and neck injury with all three substitutes already used.
Clyde had the final say deep into added time when Linton converted a Kirkpatrick pass to wrap up a comfortable win for the Bully Wee.
