Elgin City boss Gavin Price paid tribute to Smart Osadolor after his goal capped a 2-1 win over Brechin City.
Osadolor came off the bench to turn match-winner for Elgin, as they looked for much of the game to be heading for defeat at Glebe Park.
Martin Scott, who joined from Cove Rangers on Friday, had given Brechin the lead in the first half before Shane Sutherland’s 83rd-minute leveller. Osadolor met Matthew Cooper’s cross late on for the winner.
Price said: “He’s had to be patient because of the form of Kane Hester and Shane Sutherland. But we brought him here because we know he’s a threat and can score goals.
“He gives you something different. I thought he was good when he came on – I’m glad to see him getting the goal. It’s a great introduction for him to the club.”
Price handed Archie Macphee his third debut for the club, after he completed a loan move from Formartine United on the morning of the game.
Elgin’s captain Sutherland delivered the first warning shot, volleying over from the edge of the box, while the Brechin defence recovered sufficiently to block Kane Hester after Daniel MacKay picked him out.
Thomas McHale was first called into action by one of his own players, with Rory MacEwan slicing Olly Hamilton’s cross goalward only for the Elgin stopper to tip over.
But he was beaten in the 29th minute as a ball over the Elgin defence was left by both centre-halves, with Scott profiting to prod past McHale from close range.
Sutherland forced Lewis McMann to beat away his near-post effort but the ball came back to him, with the striker delivering the ball to the back post. MacKay stopped to head but could not find the target.
Caley Thistle-bound Sutherland was starting to find his range and rattled a shot across the face of McMinn’s goal at the end of a flowing Elgin move, as they started the second half in the ascendancy.
They were unable to capitalise though and Brechin could have doubled their advantage, with Hamilton inches away from meeting Ryan McCord’s cross.
It was left to Sutherland put the visitors back on level terms, digging a low shot under McMinn with seven minutes to go.
Osadolor still had time left to become the hero, glancing in Matthew Cooper’s right-wing cross to snatch the points for Elgin.
Price added: “Late goals have cost us – I think that’s 11 points we’ve lost in injury-time this season. So it’s good to reverse the balance.
“I thought we dominated most of the game and created most of the chances. We stuck with it and got our reward.”
