East Stirling keep pressure on despite spot-kick nightmare

EAST Stirling won for the eighth league game in a row to keep the pressure on Third Division leaders Livingston, although Jim McInally's men made it hard for themselves by missing two spot kicks. Elgin had the game's first chance after 15 minutes when Paul Kazcan met a Neil MacDonald free kick, however his header was stopped easily by Jamie Barclay.

Shire had the opportunity to take the lead midway through the opening period when Simon Lynch was tripped by Kazcan as he made his way into the area. Lynch dusted himself down to take the penalty, only to be denied by John Gibson who finger-tipped the ball onto the post and behind for a corner. Lynch made amends when he opened the scoring after Paul Weaver released Jamie Stevenson on the right and his cross was inch perfect for the striker to nod over the advancing Gibson. There was plenty to keep the crowd, who had been admitted for free with donations accepted for Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow, entertained before The Shire missed their second spot kick of the night 11 minutes into the second half after the luckless Kazcan felled Stephen McGuire. Andy Rodgers took responsibility only to slam the ball against Gibson to make it four penalty misses out of four for Jim McInally's side this season. Shire goalkeeper Barclay was forced to bring the speedy Craig Gunn down 20 yards from goal and was booked for his troubles, however the resultant free kick created little danger.

Stevenson kept the Shire bandwagon rolling when he curled home a shot from 20 yards.

East Stirlingshire: Barclay, Harding, Richardson, Forrest, Bolochoweckyj, Hay, McGuire (McKenzie 80), Stevenson (Dunn 80), Lynch, Weaver, Rodgers (Ure 75). Unused subs: Donaldson, Sorley.

Elgin City: Gibson, Niven, David A Craig (Edwards 75), Kazcan, David W Craig, Morrison, Gunn, MacAulay, Frizzell, MacDonald (Cameron 55), Sutherland. Unused subs: MacLeod, Calder, Dunn.

Referee: K Clancy.