Second half revival stuns Annan

Nov 18 2009 Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE TORRENTIAL overnight and morning rain made conditions anything but ideal at Galabank on Saturday.

But referee William Collum gave the match the go-ahead which resulted in Elgin recording their first ever victory over Annan Athletic.

It was a game of two halves and with Annan totally dictating the flow of the game in the first half but their inability to score during this period, when they created several clear-cut chances, cost them dearly.

Elgin City reversed the balance of power in the second half to score two goals.

Annan came out of the blocks and for the opening 10 minutes the Elgin defence wassubjected to a torrid time as Annan pressed forward looking for the early breakthrough. Chris Jardine released David Cox into the clear but the Annan striker’s shot was blocked by keeper John Gibson.

In the 10th minute, the Elgin keeper pulled off another important save to deny Cox, turning his effort round the post for a corner kick. From the resulting corner Lewis Sloan’s net-bound effort cannoned off a defender.

Elgin found it difficult to mount a serious raid on the Annan goal but in the 17th minute David Craig was presented with a half chance wide on the left but the final shot did not test Kelly in the Annan goal.

Annan were then denied the opening goal in the 20th minute when David Niven cleared Cox’s diving header from a Phill Storey Cross off the line after a fine move had cut open the Elgin defence.

It only seemed a matter of time before Annan would open their account but once again in the 23rd minute they squandered a golden opportunity when David Cox latched on to a fine through ball but, with the striker clean through on the keeper, Cox shot agonisingly wide from the edge of the box.

Kyle Macaulay then almost upset the home team in the 29th minute when he rifled in a fine shot form 10 yards which went narrowly past the upright.

Minutes later Jardine released Storey and as he made a bee line for the goal Storey was denied by a superb challenge from Alan Dempsie.

Kevin Neilson had an effort in the 35th minute when he cracked in a superb shot from the edge of the box.

Elgin, after a subdued first half ,started the second half with a bang and within two minutes of the restart the visitors forced a corner and from the corner David Niven rose above everybody to head the ball into the corner of the net. It was just the start the visitors needed and they grew in confidence.

Peter Watson was booked in the 55th minute for a challenge on Craig Gunn and, from the resulting free kick, Neil Macdonald headed past the post.

Elgin City were enjoying their best spell of the match and in the 61st minute the Annan defence were stretched when a promising move involving David Calder and Craig Gunn ended with Gunn's shot just going past the upright.

Annan never really tested the visiting keeper up to this point and their task was not helped by the sending off of Peter Watson for a second bookable offence in the 76th minute.

Annan’s miserable afternoon was completed in the 88th minute when Kyle Macaulay hit an unstoppable shot into the net from the edge of the box.

Annan boss Harry Cairney was disappointed. After the match he said: “We played some of our best football in the first half but failed to take our chances and Elgin made us pay dearly in the second half.

“We started the second half really slackly and I was disappointed that we conceded the goal from a free header.

“The sending off made it very difficult for the latter part of the game.

“We are creating chances but not killing teams off.”

Teams

Annan Athletic: G Kelly, J Steele, J MacBeth ( S Sloan 80 min)), P Watson, K Neilson, B Gilfillan, A Muirhead, C Jardine, D Cox, P Storey ( S Anson 82 min), L Sloan ( G Bell 70 min). Subs not used - C Summersgill, M Jack.

Elgin City: J Gibson, D Niven, G Tatters, A Dempsie, N Macdonald (D Calder 60 min), S Edwards, C Gunn, K Macaulay, C Frizzell, M Nicholson, D Craig. Subs not used D McLeod, M Dunn and S Dunn

Referee: W Collum.

Attendance: 416