STRANRAER closed in on a play-off spot last night as they hammered Elgin City to grab second place in the Third Division. The Stair Park men, inspired by Stephen McConalogue, were always in control and made the perfect start with 48 seconds gone.
Daniel Mitchell controlled a McConalogue cross before turning to tuck a 20-yard left-foot shot past Ally Ridgers. They added to their lead seven minutes before the break. Gregory Tadé beat the offside trap as he latched on to McConalogue's pass bef
ore netting from 12 yards.
Before the break McConalogue was provider for the third time. He released Stuart McColm, who finished clinically. McConalogue grabbed the fourth on 65 minutes when he fired Tadé's flicked pass through Ridgers' legs.
The visitors went down to ten men on 70 minutes when substitute Gerry McLaughlan was sent off for a tackle on Zander Sutherland. But with seconds left, Michael Mullen slotted home a fifth.
Elgin City:Ridgers, Nicolson, MacKay, Niven, Kaczan, Hind, Smith (Gilbert 82), O'Donoghue, Crooks, Frizzel, Sutherland. Subs not used: Charlesworth, Ross, Cameron, Allan. Smith, Gilbert.
Stranraer: Black, McKinstrey (McLaughlan 63), White, Dobbins, Noble, Kane, Gibson, Mitchell, McColm (Mullen 60), McConalogue (Cashmore 82), Tadé. Subs not used: Cashmore, Ferguson. Sent Off: McLaughlin (70). Booked: McKinstry, Dobbins.
Referee: C Brown.
Attendance: 336
The full article contains 222 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
