MATCH PREVIEW – ELGIN CITY (H)

It's matchday two in Cinch League Two and we welcome Elgin City to Central Park for our first home league game of the season and our first league game with fans at Central Park since March 2020.

Whilst we suffered an opening day defeat last Saturday City were pegged back by Stranraer at Borough Briggs for a 1-1 draw. Darryl McHardy had given the Moray side a lead at the interval but Grant Gallagher equalised for the Blues early in the second half.

The Premier Sports Cup campaign proved to be a disappointing one for Gavin Price, the second longest serving boss in League Two behind Annan’s Peter Murphy, with only one win and three defeats as they finished second bottom in Group B. The campaign opened with a home 1-0 defeat from Arbroath with Luke Donnelly scoring with ten minutes to go. The trip to Tannadice saw Kane Hester give them an early lead but goals from Lawrence Shankland (2), Nicky Clark, Peter Pawlett, Kieran Freeman and Chris Mochie gave Dundee United a convincing 6-1 win.

Once again City took an early lead in their next home game against Kelty through Little but goals from Cammy Russell and Nathan Austin (2) saw a win for the visitors. It was East Fife who were to take an early lead at Bayview through Kevin Smith but Angus Mailer quickly levelled. Kane Hester and Tony Dingwall either side of half time however secured a 3-2 victory.

The last two seasons have seen the Borough Briggs side finish third in the league, in 2019-20 a 3-2 win on a Tuesday night in Moray saw them move above us for the third spot days before Scottish football closed down due to covid. Then last season in a dramatic battle between the top four sides behind Champions Queen’s Park they qualified for the play offs only to lose 3-2 on aggregate to runners up Edinburgh City in the semi- final.

Players leaving Borough Briggs at the end of last season were Stephen Bronsky, who has joined the police force but has also signed for Edinburgh City, Smart Osadlor who is now with Cumnock and David Wilson.

Players returning to their parent clubs after loan spells were Murray Miller (Rangers), Kyle Dalling (Forfar Athletic) and Craig Brown (University of Stirling).

New players are Archie MacPhee after a loan spell from Formartine United, who had two previous spells at the club, Creag Little (Stenhousemuir), Daniel Hoban (Forfar Athletic) and Harry Nicholson on loan from Inverness CT.

MATCH SPONSOR - BRASSNECK

MATCHBALL SPONSOR – IN MEMORY OF ROBBIE & MARY HAY, LATE OF MOSSTODLOCH



MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Dan McFarlane

Dan makes his second appearance of the season having been man in the middle for our last home game against Brechin City last month. Last Saturday he was in change of Stenhousemuir v Stirling Albion which saw a 1-0 win for the Binos.

ASSISTANT REFEREES: Colin McAlpine & Scott Leslie.



ADMISSION

ADULTS - £14 | CONCESSIONS - £8.

Tickets for the game can be bought from our ticket partner Ticket Taylor.

LIVE STREAM

Can’t make it to Central Park? Watch the game online via Blue Brazil TV (Sponsored by Wee Jimmies Bar). Your commentators for the game are Colin Nelson and Craig Winter as guest co-commentator.

Cost is £11 and streams can be bought here.


SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Tickets are valid for this game in person or via the live stream.



PROGRAMME

Issue 3 of this seasons Blue Brazilian is on sale from just inside the turnstiles at the cost of £3 for the 48 page issue.
Correct change would be appreciated.



Previewer: Andrew Mullen.