Clayhole Blue Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 Shortage of match topics on here, so let’s start one! League opening-day sees us getting one of our long days out with a ‘nice’ summery trip to Borough Briggs. Looking forward to this one in the way everybody always gets excited about the first game, I.e., before reality sinks in after a few games. Grounds for a bit of optimism for us after a real grind for the last couple of seasons, but, in spite of everyone’s predictions got a feeling that this will be a toughie on Saturday. Still, it will be sunny eh? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdinburghBlue Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 40% chance of rain. Given how many people are convinced that Elgin will finish bottom (although I think Spartans and maybe Bonnyrigg will challenge for this) it would obviously be a big morale booster for Elgin if they could win on Saturday. Equally if they are to have any chance of challenging for a playoff spot, Stranraer will see this as a must-win game. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon9736 Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 I already said elsewhere that City play like they did against Motherwell, they won't be bottom. Heard that they played well in the win against St Johnstone B. Home win. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiblue Posted August 3, 2023 Share Posted August 3, 2023 2-0 to the raer 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAFKAC Posted August 4, 2023 Share Posted August 4, 2023 A tale of two different levels of confidence. I imagine there are plenty of Elgin fans a bit nervous about the season while Stranraer fans are buoyed by the last three games of last season and the work Scott Agnew has done over the summer. I think one of the best things you can say about Agnew is he has identified some of the weaknesses in Stranraer. Luke Scullion was a decent enough shotstopper but not really a presence in the goal. Martin McDonald is certainly more of a presence and time will tell how good he is as a goalkeeper. There was a lack of a left back last season when things did not work out for Sam Ellis. Finn Ecrepont came in on loan but went back to Ayr United during the close season. Cammy Williamson came in and looked good in pre-season until suffering an injury. He came back against Kelty. The glaring thing last season was the lack of a striker. Scott Robertson, James Hilton, Darryl Duffy, Craig Malcolm, Aaron Brown and Jonny Ngandu all had turns up front to various levels of success. Agnew has brought in Tom Orr and Ben Armour, who have plenty of experience at this level. Deryn Lang has joined from Lanark and time will tell how he handles the step up. Team (3-1-4-2): McDonald; Ross, Girvan, Williamson; Gallagher; McIntosh, Dolan, Fleming, Forrest; Orr and Armour. Bench: O'Connor, Robertson, Hughes... and anyone else that fancies being on the bench. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briggsy's Ghost Posted August 4, 2023 Share Posted August 4, 2023 Well I guess the first game of the season should always come with at least a little hope and optimism 2-1 City! The first half of the first game last season was one of the most depressing 45 mins of football I’ve watched - hope and optimism crushed and replaced with stark reality far too early so everything crossed for a bit better this season (45 mins at least anyway!). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cairn Terrier Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Off to a flyer...... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeAreElgin Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 That looked like 11 strangers playing together for the first time. Shite. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksgranda Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Disappointing. Already playing catch up on Clyde... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1993 Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Didn’t think there was too much in the game but we didn’t create much. Will take time for a team to gel but would be worried if this was the squad for the season. Have heard there are potentially a couple more players coming in. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayhole Blue Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 11 hours ago, 1993 said: Didn’t think there was too much in the game but we didn’t create much. Will take time for a team to gel but would be worried if this was the squad for the season. Have heard there are potentially a couple more players coming in. Thought Elgin looked a bit like us last season, lots of hustle and bustle, but no threat up front. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon9736 Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 Ultimately the better team won, although their goal came from Elgin giving the ball away near the halfway line and the scorer being in the right place to head the ball in after McHale's save. Elgin played well but I don't think the Stranraer keeper had a direct shot to save. There were no poor players and I agree with 1993 about them needing to gel. Still don't think we'll be bottom. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1993 Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Clayhole Blue said: Thought Elgin looked a bit like us last season, lots of hustle and bustle, but no threat up front. Yeah that sums us up pretty well. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayhole Blue Posted August 6, 2023 Author Share Posted August 6, 2023 (edited) As for Stranraer, I felt we were the better team for most of the game and created a few chances in the first half. After the break, Elgin changed their shape and I thought that we did really well to press them back for a while. Last 10, we brought on subs and just ensured the game stayed at 1-0. Very decent first day result, and a good display from James Dolan. Do Elgin produce a highlights package? Edited August 6, 2023 by Clayhole Blue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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