Elgin’s Jekyll-and-Hyde performance against Berwick left them seven matches without a win ahead of this weekend’s crunch meeting with Montrose.
Woeful defending had the Borough Briggs men two goals down and, while the costly lapses dismayed Elgin assistant manager Gavin Price, he was enthused by the spirit shown in storming back for a draw.
Elgin saw the gap between themselves and fifth-place Montrose in the race for play-off places reduced to just four points. Price said: “I don’t think it was the result we were looking for before the game but we were 2-0 down in the first half so we will probably say it is good that we have come back to get something,
“The positives are we created more chances again and certainly ended the game on the front foot, which we can hopefully bring on to the Montrose game. That will be a massive game for us.”
The two goals against were conceded in less than 60 seconds just before half-time and Price added: “From a defensive point of view it was criminal the goals we lost. It makes it very difficult to win games when you lose goals as easily as that.
“A very easy header came in at the back post and we’ve got to defend better than that. For the second goal, we shouldn’t be letting someone turn in the box like that.
“It’s unfortunate to lose those but the reaction was all we would ask for. Getting the goal back straight away was important and I felt we dominated the second half.”
Berwick had the first chance when Aaron Murrell rounded goalkeeper Marc Waters but was denied by a superb Archie Macphee tackle as he shaped to execute the finish on 13 minutes.
At the other end, visiting goalkeeper Sean Brennan pulled off a great save from Chris McLeish’s curling drive then blocked Jamie Reid’s follow-up.
The game then burst to life with three goals in the closing four minutes of the half.
Berwick took charge with two in a minute, firstly when Greg Rutherford headed home a David Verlaque cross before Aaron Murrell quickly turned in the box to add a second.
Elgin hit back a minute before half-time when Thomas Reilly curled home a 20-yard free kick.
Murrell had a chance to make it 3-1 five minutes after the break but nodded Jonny Fairbairn’s flick over the bar from close range.
Another fine save by Berwick goalkeeper Brennan denied McLeish when the attacker broke clean through on the hour.
Brian Cameron grabbed City’s equaliser – and his 50th goal for the Black and Whites – from the penalty spot in 82 minutes after Berwick midfielder Steve Notman was penalised for handball in the box.
