The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Peterhead Elgin City
Peterheadopenedupa fivepoint lead at the top of League 2 thanks to a dramatic late derby victory against Elgin City at Balmoor yesterday.
Elgin captain David Niven gave Ross Jack's Black and Whites the lead before the interval but Graeme Sharp's deflected effort levelled the scores and Jamie Redman netted the winner in the final minute of the match as the Blue Toon extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.
It was a third defeat in a row for Elgin City but there were plenty of positives for the visitors to take from an Elgin City manager Ross Jack was cursing his luck after his side’s defeat by Peterhead.
The Borough Briggs men led at the break thanks to captain David Niven’s strike but a deflected effort from Graeme Sharp and Jamie Redman’s goal in the dying embers meant City left Balmoor with no points and a third loss in a row.
It was rough justice on Jack’s men, who had more than contributed to a lively match and Jack felt his team was unlucky to leave empty-handed.
He said: “I thought we played extremely well but we just couldn’t get the second goal. Their goalkeeper, Graeme Smith, made some excellent saves to keep them in the game.
“The first goal came courtesy of a deflection and the second one was a toepoke after their player got in front of our defender. That is why you tell the players to keep going and never give up.
“The difference is when you are at the top of the league you get all the breaks, whereas when you are near the bottom you don’t seem to get the good fortune but we will fight on.
“That is just the way things are going for us. At Annan Athletic on Saturday we had the bad luck with the penalty and our goalkeeper being sent off.
“Upuntil the last minute, I thought the players were outstanding and put in a great shift.”
Meanwhile, Elgin’s Georgian midfielder Dachi Khutsishvilli’s looks unlikely to extend his stay with the club. The 20-yearold signed a short-term contract in September but Jack is unsure whether the player will prolong his stay. He said: “We are talking to him but we are doubtful if we are going to be able to get something agreed.”