Great Scott - he's scored again!

Oct 19 2011

ANNAN defender Scott Gibson claimed his seventh goal of the season to earn the home side a point.

He deflected a Jordan McKechnie shot past Elgin keeper Zander Clark in the 74th minute to maintain his amazing scoring run. The strike cancelled out Brian Cameron’s fourth minute opener for the visitors who dominated the league leaders in first half.

The introduction of Steven Sloan for Ian Harty was the catalyst for the change in Annan’s fortunes.

In the second period it was Elgin who were on the back foot and they had goalkeeper Clark to thank for a share of the spoils.

Sloan made an immediate impact when he crossed to Graeme Bell who rattled the bar with a volley in the 46th minute. At the other end Elgin forced a corner and Macbeth scrambled Jamie Duff’s header off the line.

Annan had claims for a penalty swept aside when Chris Jardine’s effort was blocked.

Almost immediately Elgin broke forward through Brian Cameron who finished with a great ball across the face of the goal but there was none around to pick up the pieces. Sloan headed narrowly past from a Michael McGowan cross before Gibson saw a netbound shot cleared off the line in the 70th minute.

Gibson’s goal four minutes later gave Annan the scent of victory and Bryan Gilfillan tested Clark with a low drive.

As the game entered the closing stages, the keeper denied Annan with a stunning save from a David Cox effort.

And in injury time Jardine connected beautifully to volley the ball towards the top corner of the net but once again Clark saved.

ELGIN City had to be content with a share of the points after pinning Annan back for the entire first half , the highland league side made it an uncomfortable afternoon for top of the table Annan who were dreadfull in the opening half. Annan started the match as strong favourites to extend their lead at the top of the table but once Brian Cameron gave the visitors a fourth minute lead Annan were left chasing shadows as the visitors dominated the first half with Annan unable to seriously test Zander Clark in the Elgin goal. At half time Annan would have taken anything from the game but in a complete reversal of the first half it was Annan who controlled the majority of the play in the second half to earn a draw which looked highly unlikely at half time.

The introduction of Steven Sloan at half time was the catalyst in Annan’s revival and with Graeme Bell replacing the out of touch Ian Harty up the middle

Annan, who had started the match without the injured trio of Aaron Muirhead, Jack Steele and Sean O’Connor, showed resolve to come back after a sloppy start.

But they saw their lead at the top cut to three points as Stranraer recorded a 3-1 away win at Peterhead.

Annan boss Harry Cairney conceded his team played poorly in the first half.

He said: "The changes made at half-time brought more shape to our team and we started to create opportunities.

"The Elgin keeper pulled off some great saves, Elgin are a well organised team and the players did well to lift their game and get the breakthrough to give us a share of the points."

Jordan McKecknie was reintroduced at the centre of midfield alongside man of the match Chris Jardine with David Cox and Graeme Bell taking up the wide berths in a four man midfield. Annan made a nervous start to the game conceding an early corner and with only four minutes on the clock Elgin cut open the Annan defence down the right when Craig Gunn’s penetrating ball had the Annan defenders turning and Brian Cameron picked up the ball to finish with a clinical shot from 10 yards past the outstretched hand of the diving Craig Summersgill and into the corner of the net.

It was just the start Elgin were seeking and with Annan failing to string two passes together it was not surprising that Elgin were the team who were pulling the strings but disappointingly for Elgin and fortunately for Annan they were unable to seriously test Craig Summersgill in the Annan goal.

Annan had a real scare in the 33rd minute when Brian Cameron the scorer of the first goal once again managed to find space behind the Annan down the right but the striker’s elected to shoot instead of squaring the ball to Stuart Leslie who had taken up a great position in front of goal.

With time running out the play swung to the other end and Elgin forced a late corner but the Annan defence dealt with the situation to ensure the points were shared.

Elgin boss Ross Jack said: "We totally dominated the first half and were in total command. The second half was more of a game and we defended well when asked to.

"The Annan goal was a scrambled effort but at the time we were under pressure, our keeper had a couple of excellent saves but overall it would have been harsh if we did not take something from the game."

Teams

Annan: C Summersgill, J Macbeth, M McGowan, S Gibson, P Watson, J McKechnie, B Gilfillan, C Jardine, I Harty (S Sloan 45 min), G Bell, D Cox. Subs not used: G Wild, K Neilson, J Atkinson and A Mitchell.

Elgin City: Z Clark, D Niven (R O’Donoghue 82 min), A McPhee, P Kaczan, J Duff, G Beveridge, C Gunn (J Crooks 77min), B Cameron (S Edwards 84 min), S Leslie, M Nicolson, D Moore. Substitutes not used C Frizzell, S Black.

Referee: K Graham.

Attendance: 417.