Annan at last got their Irn Bru Scottish League campaign up and running when they ground out a 1-1 draw at Borough Briggs, Elgin on Saturday courtesy of a superb Bryan Gilfillan strike in a match made difficult for both teams by the strong wind.

Manager Harry Cairney made three changes form the starting eleven that was defeated at Stair Park the previous week with Greg Kelly, Mike Jack and youngster Aaron Muirhead all included in the starting line up with Craig Summersgill, Chris Jardine and Jack Steel dropping to the bench.

Elgin like Annan were looking for their first win of the season in the league but Annan playing with the wind were the team who started well and made most of the running in the first half. City breathed a sigh of relief in the 11^th minute when Lewis Sloan’s penetrating free kick found Aaron Muirhead powering in at the near post but the ball bounced off his torso and to safety.

The home team were handed an unexpected bonus in the 16^th minute when Aaron Muirhead’s clumsy challenge on ex-Stranraer striker Craig Frizzell resulted in a penalty being awarded. Jason Crooks spot kick however was a tame effort and Greg Kelly had little difficulty in smothering the spot kick. It was a real let off for Annan, Crooks almost made amends minutes later with a low shot from the edge of the box which flashed past Kelly’s right hand post.

Annan then squandered a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 20^th minute when David Cox latched on to a through ball down the right and his speed took him beyond his marker but Cox‘s decision to shoot rather than square the ball to the unmarked Graeme Bell proved to be the wrong decision.

Annan opened the scoring in the 38^th minute with a stunning Bryan Gilfillan strike from all of 30 yards which looped over the head of John Gibson who managed to get a hand on the ball but the power of the wind assisted shot was too much for the keeper to avert a goal.

After playing second fiddle in the first half and now playing with the wind in their favour in the second half it was the home team who made all the running and Annan were facing up to an uncomfortable 45 minutes. Steven Sloan headed a Bryan Gilfillan back header off the goal line in the 50^th minute and in the 53^rd minute Elgin had a goal chalked off for offside.

The home team’s pressure was relentless and the writing was on the wall for Annan when Elgin equalised in the 54^th minute. The goal left question marks hanging over Annan’s marking when David Niven’s near post cross found Craig Dunn in acres of space and his header powered into the top corner of the net.

Elgin City continued to bombard the Annan goal but the Annan defence stood firm and Elgin failed to capitalise and had to be content with a share of the points, a result which left City manager Ross Jack a little frustrated.

A win was a must today and we are now adrift from the teams making the running. My players are disappointed, this is a new Elgin team and it’s what we do this year that matters. The players are applying themselves well but Annan will be the happier team today. We started very sloppy and it was difficult to pick up in the second half. Next week’s game will be a different game, Annan will be favourites but the players will be prepared and ready. It is a fantastic opportunity for Elgin City to get into a semi final of a national cup competition.

Harry Cairney was relieved to get a point “we have had a difficult month with three away league games so it will be good to get back to home soil next week. The players worked hard today and I had my doubts that one goal would have been enough to defend in the second half but defensively we did very well. We will need to improve next week in the Alba Cup quarter final but it is a different game and a massive incentive for the club to progress to the semi final stage”.

Bryan Gilfillan’s goal was his second in 4 league matches, “I don’t seem to score tap ins and hopefully I can keep the goals coming. It was a disappointing game in the end and the conditions got the better of us. In the second half we never looked like scoring so credit to us for the way we defended”.