Elgin City last night leapfrogged Cowdenbeath into third place in League 2 thanks to three crucial second half goals from Archie MacPhee, Shane Sutherland and Brian Cameron.
The undoubted highlight in a rollercoaster 90 minutes at Borough Briggs was MacPhee’s sensational 35 yard free-kick to restore parity two minutes after the interval.
Elgin City were without skipper Euan Spark who suffered a reoccurrence of a recent knee injury while new striker, Smart Osadolor, who scored in his first start in the 3-1 home win over Stirling Albion last Saturday, dropped to the bench
This was an important encounter for both sides in the race for a League 2 play-off place with the Blue Brazil just one point ahead of fourth-placed Elgin at kick-off.
City keeper Tom McHale was called into action in the second minute when he safely gathered a swirling 30-yard drive from David Cox.
Conor O’Keefe passed up a glorious chance to open the scoring in the sixth minute when he ran on to a Kane Hester feed but his parting effort from 10 yards was a weak one and straight at Joshua Rae in the Cowdenbeath goal.
That miss proved costly as just 60 seconds later the visitors took the lead with Jordan Allan, unmarked in the box, driving the ball low past the diving McHale from 10 yards.
Five minutes later Brian Cameron outpaced the Cowdenbeath back line, drew keeper Rae and fired goalwards but his angled effort was easily cleared by a retreating defender.
The Black and Whites went close again soon after when O’Keefe was inches away from connecting with Cameron’s drive across the six-yard line.
Ross Graham had a half chance for City in the 32nd minute but once again his shot was straight at Rae from 10 yards.
Two minutes after the restart Elgin were back on level terms in spectacular fashion, Archie MacPhee’s fabulous 35-yard free-kick swerving low past Rae at the keeper’s near post.
Elgin took the lead in the 56th minute when Shane Sutherland ran on to a long through ball, held off the challenge of a Cowdenbeath defender and planted the ball low past the advancing Rae.
However, the fat was really in the fire in the 66th minute when Cowdenbeath drew level, substitute Jordyn Sheerin stabbing the ball over the line.
Two minutes later Gavin Price’s men were back in front when Brian Cameron’s downward header best Rae at the back post, a lead they successfully managed to defend in a nervy final 20 minutes.
In injury time Cowdenbeath were reduced to 10 when Jamie Todd picked up a second yellow.
