Date:06 Mar 2012
Kick-off:19:45
Venue:Borough Briggs
Attendance:588

Gunn (27) Aaron Muirhead - og (34)
Niven (77)

Goal!

Live Commentary

87mins Unfair challenge on Jason Crooks by Micheal McGowan results in a free kick. Barry Wilson takes the direct free kick.

85mins Aaron Muirhead takes a shot. Blocked by David Niven. Corner taken by Ben McKenna.

84mins Mark Nicolson concedes a free kick for a foul on Graeme Bell. David Cox crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, clearance by Mark Durnan.

82mins Jordan McKechnie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Niven. Red card for Jordan McKechnie. Free kick taken by Barry Wilson.

80mins Foul by Paul Millar on Steve Swinglehurst, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steve Swinglehurst.

79mins Barry Wilson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Daniel Moore.

77mins Daniel Moore fouled by Aaron Muirhead, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Moore, David Niven finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Elgin 3-0 Annan Athletic.The assist for the goal came from Daniel Moore.

75mins Graeme Bell challenges Paul McMullan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Alexander Clark.

73mins Free kick awarded for a foul by David Cox on Paul Millar. David Cox shown a yellow card. Daniel Moore takes the direct free kick, Header by Jason Crooks from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

72mins Jason Crooks produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

70mins John MacBeth is brought on as a substitute for David Winters.

69mins Free kick awarded for a foul by David Winters on Alexander Clark. Alexander Clark takes the direct free kick.

68mins The ball is delivered by Paul Millar, Steve Swinglehurst gets a block in. Corner taken by Daniel Moore from the left by-line, Jordan McKechnie makes a clearance.

66mins Stuart Leslie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Micheal McGowan. Free kick taken by David Cox.

65mins Craig Gunn produces a cross, Alex Mitchell makes a save.

63mins Foul by Jordan McKechnie on David Niven, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by David Niven.

59mins Mark Nicolson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jordan McKechnie. Free kick crossed by David Cox.

59mins Centre by Ben McKenna, save made by Alexander Clark.

57mins Headed effort from deep inside the area by David Cox misses to the left of the goal.

56mins Archibald MacPhee takes a shot. Steven Sloan gets a block in.

55mins Graeme Bell replaces Scott Gibson. Jamie Duff leaves the field to be replaced by Paul Millar.

54mins A cross is delivered by Micheal McGowan, Archibald MacPhee manages to make a clearance.

53mins Archibald MacPhee produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

52mins Daniel Moore delivers the ball, Steve Swinglehurst manages to make a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by Daniel Moore, Alex Mitchell makes a save.

46mins Craig Gunn crosses the ball, Alex Mitchell makes a save.

45mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stuart Leslie by Micheal McGowan. Daniel Moore takes the direct free kick, Mark Durnan has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the goal.

45mins Paul McMullan joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ross O'Donoghue. Jordan McKechnie on for Christopher Jardine.

43mins The ball is delivered by Craig Gunn, save made by Alex Mitchell.

40mins The ball is sent over by David Cox.

38mins Mark Nicolson takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand post.

37mins A cross is delivered by Daniel Moore, Christopher Jardine makes a clearance. Daniel Moore takes the outswinging corner, David Niven takes a shot. Alex Mitchell makes a save. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Daniel Moore.

37mins Jason Crooks takes a shot. Blocked by Christopher Jardine.

36mins Aaron Muirhead gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Daniel Moore. Jason Crooks takes the free kick.

33mins Unfair challenge on Stuart Leslie by Micheal McGowan results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Moore. Own goal by Aaron Muirhead. Elgin 2-0 Annan Athletic.The assist for the goal came from Daniel Moore.

35mins Mark Durnan takes a shot. Save made by Alex Mitchell.

32mins Mark Nicolson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Cox. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Christopher Jardine, Mark Durnan makes a clearance.

32mins The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Alex Mitchell.

30mins David Cox is flagged offside by the assistant referee. David Niven takes the direct free kick.

29mins The referee blows for offside against Ben McKenna. Indirect free kick taken by Alexander Clark.

27mins A goal is scored by Craig Gunn from close in low into the middle of the goal. Elgin 1-0 Annan Athletic.Assist by Jason Crooks.

26mins Ben McKenna is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Alexander Clark.

26mins Stuart Leslie crosses the ball, save by Alex Mitchell.

25mins Micheal McGowan challenges Stuart Leslie unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Niven restarts play with the free kick.

22mins A cross is delivered by David Cox, Alexander Clark makes a save.

20mins Ben McKenna takes a shot. Save by Alexander Clark.

18mins The ball is swung over by Craig Gunn.

16mins Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Craig Gunn.

16mins David Cox produces a cross, Aaron Muirhead takes a shot. Save made by Alexander Clark.

13mins The offside flag is raised against Craig Gunn. Alex Mitchell restarts play with the free kick.

12mins Daniel Moore decides to take the corner short.

9mins The ball is delivered by David Niven, Mark Nicolson takes a shot. Save made by Alex Mitchell. The assistant referee flags for offside against David Winters. Alexander Clark takes the free kick.

8mins Archibald MacPhee takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Gibson. Short corner worked by Daniel Moore.

7mins Craig Gunn is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Alex Mitchell takes the indirect free kick.

5mins Daniel Moore produces a cross, Alex Mitchell makes a save.

3mins Ben McKenna crosses the ball, Mark Nicolson gets a block in.

3mins The offside flag is raised against Craig Gunn. Steve Swinglehurst takes the free kick.

2mins Steven Sloan concedes a free kick for a foul on Ross O'Donoghue. Direct free kick taken by Alexander Clark.

1mins The ball is delivered by David Winters, Mark Nicolson manages to make a clearance.

The official flags Ben McKenna offside. Alexander Clark restarts play with the free kick.

Match Preview

Duff doubt for Elgin Elgin defender Jamie Duff is struggling to make his side's crunch promotion clash with visitors Annan due to a hamstring problem he picked up during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Queen's Park. Captain Paul Kaczan remains out with a groin problem but midfielders Graeme Beveridge and Ross O'Donoghue are ready to return to starting roles after injury. Elgin can move six points clear in fourth place by seeing off one-time leaders Annan with a win and manager Ross Jack said: "We can take on Annan with confidence despite only drawing our last two home games as we are on a good run just now. "We have the chance to make this our best SFL season by winning a play-off place and winning this game would be step in making that happen." Annan defender Peter Watson is available after suspension as Harry Cairney's side make the long trip north in a bid to breath fresh life into a flagging promotion campaign. Goalkeeper Craig Summersgill, midfielder Bryan Gilfillan, defender Jack Steele and striker Sean O'Connor have all been ruled out by Cairney as his side look for only their second win in nine games. Cairney said: "We had a really good first half against leaders Alloa at the weekend and we can build on that. We need to play at the level for the full 90 minutes and if we can get a win I am sure we will have a fresh belief that we can have an exciting end to the season. "Elgin is a very long journey to go on and not play well."

Formation:442Manager: Ross Jack

Elgin

Formation: 442Manager: Harry Cairney

Annan Athletic

Alexander Clark
David Niven
Jamie Duff
Mark Nicolson
Mark Durnan
Stuart Leslie
Ross O'Donoghue
Archibald MacPhee
Daniel Moore
Craig Gunn
Jason Crooks
SUBS
John Calder
Graeme Beveridge
Paul McMullan
Paul Millar
Barry Wilson

Home

Away

Alex Mitchell
Aaron Muirhead
Steve Swinglehurst
Scott Gibson
Micheal McGowan
Ben McKenna
Christopher Jardine
Peter Watson
Steven Sloan
David Winters
David Cox
SUBS
Ross Hyslop
John MacBeth
Graeme Bell
Jordan McKechnie
Danny Mitchell

Match Report

Elgin claim crucial win Elgin maintained their play-off push with a 3-0 win over promotion rivals Annan at Borough Briggs. The Black and Whites took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Craig Gunn was on hand to fire home strike partner Jason Crooks' cross. The advantage was doubled seven minutes later when defender Aaron Muirhead put Daniel Moore's cross through his own net. Victory was all but ensured 12 minutes from time when David Niven rose highest to head home Moore's cross. The visitors' evening got worse in the final minutes when substitute Jordan McKechnie was dismissed for a challenge on Niven. The defeat will be a huge blow to Harry Cairney's ambitions as Annan now trail Elgin, who occupy the final play-off spot, by six points.

Form Guide

WWWWDD Elgin VS Annan Athletic DDDWLL

Last Meetings

Annan Athletic 1 - 1 Elgin 11/02/2012 Annan Athletic 1 - 1 Elgin 15/10/2011 Elgin 2 - 3 Annan Athletic 12/03/2011 Annan Athletic 2 - 2 Elgin 15/01/2011 Elgin 2 - 0 Annan Athletic 06/11/2010 Annan Athletic 0 - 1 Elgin 11/09/2010

Top Scorers

Elgin C Gunn 14 P Millar 5 M Nicolson 3 B Cameron 3 G Beveridge 3 S Leslie 3 R O'Donoghue 2 D Niven 2 J Crooks 2 A MacPhee 2 B Wilson 1 J Duff 1 M Durnan 1 D Moore 1 Annan Athletic S O'Connor 7 S Gibson 7 D Cox 5 D Winters 3 S Sloan 3 J Steele 3 J McKechnie 3 I Harty 2 G Bell 1 P Watson 1 A Muirhead 1

Goals

Elgin Total goals 88 Goals per game 49 10 (For) Period 0-10 mins 4 (For) 5 (Against) Period 11-20 mins 5 (For) 6 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 4 (For) 6 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 7 (For) 5 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 7 (For) 4 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 5 (For) 4 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 2 (For) 7 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 5 (For) 2 (Against) Period 81-90 mins Annan Athletic Total goals 81 Goals per game 42 4 (For) 3 (Against) Period 0-10 mins 8 (For) 5 (Against) Period 11-20 mins 2 (For) 5 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 7 (For) 2 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 5 (For) 4 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 4 (For) 5 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 5 (For) 2 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 4 (For) 6 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 3 (For) 4 (Against) Period 81-90 mins