The opening league game kicked off the same as we closed last season’s regular matches with a draw at Elgin.

Including our play -off games with East Kilbride it was our fifth successive draw in the league going back to the end of April, while Elgin were still left looking for their first win in any competition since February – a run of 17 winless games.

It was a young side which took the field at Borough Briggs with five teenagers in the starting line -up and an average squad age of just 20.

New signing Ben Stirling came in for his debut while his former Hibs under 20 team mate Ally Smith featured as a trialist.

We took the game to the hosts in the opening stages and after forcing corner after corner were rewarded with 11 minutes gone when a Swann corner was met at the back post by David SYME to head home his third goal of the campaign.

Home keeper Watters then had to pull off fine stops to deny both Muirhead and Buchanan as we looked to double our advantage.

However with 26 minutes gone, and against the run of play, Elgin grabbed an equaliser when full back Matthew COOPER took the ball forward and unleashed a 20 yard strike which flew high past McGovern into the top corner of the net.

The goal brought Elgin back to life and ended the first half on top and dominated the second half with McGovern pulling off a point blank save from his name sake Jon Paul as well as parrying efforts from Dodd and Reilly.

Allan, Cameron and Eadie all missed further opportunities for the hosts while our best effort saw Muirhead drift a shot wide of the post.

TEAM: McGovern, Pyper, Swann, Stirling, Rumsby, Syme, Smith, Mullen, Connelly (Morris 67), Muirhead & Buchanan (Miller 78). Subs not used – McGurn, Kellichan, Thomson, Denton & Turnbull.

Goal: Syme (11).

ELGIN CITY: Watters, Cooper, McHardy, Eadie, Bronsky, McGovern, Dodd, Cameron, Allan (McLeish 72), Reilly (Ferguson 86) & Reid (A Sutherland 82). Subs not used – Dear, Smith, McKinnon & Wilson.

Goal: Cooper (26).

Booked: Allan (58).