A more familiar face greeted Peterhead in their second game of the Premier Sports League Cup with Elgin City the visitors to Balmoor. A much improved side from the first meeting of last season between the sides, the away team looked to build on the two points gained in their opener against Kelty Hearts following a penalty shootout win. For Peterhead, there were two changes from the team that fell to defeat against Queen’s Park: Jordan Armstrong and Seb Ross replacing Rory McAllister and Scott Ross in the starting line-up.
It was a game of few chances in the first half with Peterhead pressing and causing the visitors problems, particularly with Cieran Dunne down the Blue Toon left. The first shot of the game was the opening goal, Max Barry delivered a fantastic low cross into the area and Ben Armour was there to stick it into the back of the net – his first goal since his return to the North East. Peterhead continued to dominate the affair, however Elgin had the only other chance in the first period as Stuart McKenzie claimed Oliver McDonald’s effort.
Half Time: Peterhead 1-0 Elgin City
The early stages of the second half were once again controlled by Peterhead without creating many chances. The hosts were punished for the lack of creativity as Jack Murray headed home from a corner to equalise for Elgin in one of a handful of attacks. Things went from bad to worse for the Blue Toon as Caleb Goldie slipped on the surface and was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Dajon Golding, who was lucky to remain on the park following a poor challenge on Seb Ross, slotted the resulting spot kick past McKenzie.
Elgin weren’t ahead for long as the Blue Toon fought back. Rory McAllister, a substitute just moments before, wriggled his way into space inside the area and slipped the ball into the path of Goldie, he rounded Tom McHale and slotted the ball into an empty net. The comeback was complete soon after as club captain Jason Brown nodded home his first of the season from Barry’s corner. Jason didn’t have to wait long for his second – Barry played a short corner to Jack Brown which Jason headed down, the header was blocked but he made no mistake on the follow up as he found the bottom left corner.
Full Time: Peterhead 4-2 Elgin City (Armour 22’, Goldie 71’, Jason Brown 79’ & 84’; Murray 57, Golding 67’)
Starting XI: McKenzie, Goldie (Wilson 85’), Jason Brown, Armstrong, Dunne, Forrest (Danny Strachan 85’), McCarthy, Pawlett (Ward 68’), Seb Ross (Jack Brown 60’), Barry, Armour (McAllister 68’)
