Third Division: Elgin eye the title after beating leaders Stranraer

Published on Sunday 23 January 2011 13:36

Three games beat the freeze with ever improving Elgin City coming from behind to throw the title race wide open by defeating leaders Stranraer 2-1 at Borough Briggs.

The Blues, who had been undefeated away from home this season, went ahead early in the first half when Michael Moore turned home a Grant Gallagher cross.

Elgin levelled seven minutes into the second half as visiting goalkeeper David Mitchell's save from a Craig Gunn shot rebounded off the unfortunate Gallagher and crept over the line.

Gunn supplied the winner midway through the second half when he picked up a knockdown from a Jason Crooks corner to fire home. Having lost late goals to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Annan recently, Elgin had a scare when Stranraer's Sean Winter netted in injury time, although his effort was ruled out for offside.

The Morayshire club have moved up into third place, three points behind the Stair Park men, with manager Ross Jack saying: "We are now getting into a position where we can challenge for the title although there are a number of teams that will be thinking the same."

Annan climbed to fifth place after Kevin Neilson's injury time header at Montrose earned a 1-0 win over their hosts.

The game at Hampden between Queen's Park and Berwick Rangers was won 1-0 by the Spiders thanks to Martin McBride's deflected goal 18 minutes from time. Rangers' Darren Gribben was hauled off by manager Jimmy Crease after a very verbal disagreement about playing instructions.