The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Peterhead dump Elgin with late strike to go clear at top Head of League 2 after handing City their third defeat in row
Balmoor: Blue Toon extend unbeaten run and open up a five-point lead at
entertaining tussle against the league leaders.
Peterhead's unbeaten run had started with a 4-2 victory against Elgin City at Borough Briggs onNovember 9. The sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Balmoor in August, so the spectators arrived at Peterhead on a chilly afternoon expecting plenty of goalmouth action.
The Blue Toon were without defender Reece Donaldson, whose loan spell had been cut short by
“The visitors almost doubled their advantage five minutes after the break”
parent club Raith Rovers but full back Sharp, who was absent for the 3-1 victory at Berwick Rangers, returned after a hip injury.
The visitors had Raymond Jellema, formerly of Peterhead, in goal after appealing the red card he was shown in the 2-1 defeat at Annan Athletic on Saturday as manager Jack kept faith with the same starting XI as his side aimed to bounce back after two successive defeats.
Elgin made a promising start, with midfielder Shane Sutherland sending a speculative shot from distance just over Graeme Smith's crossbar in the opening minute.
The hosts' first foray forward came after six minutes when Andy Rodgers cut inside from the right flank but his controlled left-foot shot curled just wide of Jellema's righthand post.
Elgin continued to look lively in attack with Craig Gunn's well-struck volley deflected wide and Mark Nicolson heading over from the resulting corner as the game continued to ebb and flow nicely from end to end.
It seemed only a matter of time before Elgin would take the lead and the goal duly arrived when Paul Harkins's fine backpost corner was nodded back across goal by Nicolson to the unmarked Niven, who smashed the ball high into the roof of the net from eight yards out.
Peterhead went close to restoring parity after 19 minutes.
Central midfielder Jamie Redman sent an enticing ball to the back post but RoryMcAllisterwasunable to connect with the goal gaping.
Referee Mat Northcroft's new year resolution appeared to be to keep his yellow card in his top pocket for as long as he could, permitting a late tackle from Gunn on Bryan Gilfillan and a similarly mistimed challenge by Harkins on Gilfillan go unpunished before Elgin’s Jamie Duff received the game's first caution for dissent.
The in-form McAllister, who had scored five goals i n h i s previous t wo matches, exchanged passes with Rodgers before drawing a good save from Jellema with a low left-
footed drive as the Peterhead pressure intensified before the break.
The visitors almost doubled their advantage five minutes after the break through a swift counter-attack but Sutherland's header from a Gunn cross was well saved by Smith.
Dennis Wyness tumbled in the area under pressure from Dean Cowie in the 54th minute but referee Northcroft opted to book the Elgin forward for simulation, which appeared to be the correct decision.
Elgin's quest for a second continued with the impressive Harkins embarking on a rampaging run into the Peterhead penalty area but his final effort on goal was excellently clawed away by Smith.
Elgin were made to pay for their profligacy in the 63rd minute when Redman rolled the ball into the path of Sharp and the defender's powerful effort took a wicked deflection to help the ball into the net. Peterhead manager Jim McInally was forced into making his first change when McAllister limped off and was replaced by former Aberdeen midfielder Jordon Brown.
Peterhead almost clinched the points with 10 minutes left when Rodgers j i nked past Duff but Jellema was equal to the forward's goalbound effort. The winner came in the final minute of the match when Rodgers surged down the left flank before cutting the ball back for Redman to poke the ball beyond Jellema to the delight of the home support.