McInally hails Blue Toon character after McAllister blow

Peterhead manager Jim McInally praised the character of his side after the Blue Toon netted a last-gasp winner to defeat Elgin City 2- 1 at Balmoor.

Midfielder Jamie Redman was the Buchan team’s hero when he poked home the winning goal in the final minute after Graeme Sharp had cancelled out Elgin captain David Niven's opener.

McInally had feared his players were going to have to settle for a draw and was delighted with Redman's late strike, which gives them a five-point cushion over Clyde at the top of League 2.

He said: “I didn't see the goal coming and I thought the game was going to end 1-1. It must have been a decent game for the neutrals to watch, with both teams having a go.

“When Rory McAllister went off injured I think a lot of people would have thought our chance had gone, but Andy Rodgers is equally as good a player and his little bit of class at the end helped set up Jamie for the winning goal. It is a great result because Elgin are a decent team.

“To go 16 points clear of them makes me very happy.

“Ididn't think they needed to waste time as much as they did. Sometimes that can come back to haunt you and that was possibly what happened. It was a good, open game and we probably deserved it because of the desire we showed at the end. We never accepted a draw and kept pushing forward for a second goal."

McInally is hopeful McAllister will be available for his side's next match against East Stirling on January 11 and hopes to bolster his squad before then.

He added: “Rory's hamstring was tightening up again so we took him off but it is not too bad. We are trying to get a player or two in as we are a bit short at the back. I can't ask for any more in terms of effort but in terms of performance we could have done a lot better."

Cauldron: Elgin's Paul Harkins, left, tussles with Rory McAllister