Henderson hat-trick as Elgin feel his force
EDINBURGH CITY 4 ELGIN CITY 1
Edinburgh City – B Henderson (21, 79, 87), Smith (67); Elgin City – Omar (61) A hat-trick from in-form frontman Blair Henderson helped Edinburgh City to victory over Elgin, increasing the Capital side’s advantage at the top of League 2.
Elgin went close early on when midfielder Brian Cameron’s shot rattled Calum Antell’s bar, but, having survived that scare, Edinburgh edged ahead in the 21st minute, Henderson controlling Craig Thomson’s pass before sending a low shot past Gourlay.
The visitors drew level just after the hour when Rabin Omar took advantage of an uncharacteristic goalkeeping blunder by Antell before netting from close range.
However, The Citizens regained their lead shortly afterwards when Allan Smith fired past Gourlay from the edge of the box.
Henderson made it 3-1 with a low shot from Graham Taylor’s pass in 79 minutes and he secured victory – and his hat trick – with a similar effort three minutes from time.
CLYDE 1 ANNAN ATHLETIC 0
Rankin (90+2)
A last-ditch goal from John Rankin handed the Bully Wee the points and stretched their unbeaten run to six games.
It looked as if the deadlock would not be broken at sleet-lashed, windswept Broadwood until the veteran midfielder struck at the death, condemning Annan to a sixth game without a win.
Visiting striker Aidan Smith forced an early save from Blair Currie, and then shot narrowly wide from 20 yards as the Galabankies set the early pace.
It took Clyde fully half-an-hour before they had an effort on goal, Jack Boyle firing over from 18 yards.
The effort spurred the Bully Wee into action and they finished the first half on top, with Mark Lamont seeing an effort from an acute angle saved by Alex Mitchell.
It was a similar story on the restart, with neither side able to exert control and both restricted to speculative shots from distance.
The home side conjured a rare chance inside the Annan box on 63 minutes, but Dylan Cogill’s netbound-header was turned behind by Mitchell.
Ten minutes later, David Goodwillie did have the ball in the net, but the prolific Clyde striker was flagged offside.
But the home side finally made one count in stoppage time when Rankin latched onto a loose ball and swept it gleefully beyond Mitchell.