Match Details
Annan Athletic v Elgin City
Match Report
Annan boss Peter Murphy elected to start with the same starting eleven which lifted the points at Edinburgh City the previous week. Elgin boss Gavin Price was without the suspended Euan Spark but top striker Kane Hester led the Elgin attack following his one match ban as the visitors came in search of much needed points to Galabank.
It was however Annan who grabbed the points with a stirring second half performance after Elgin got off to a flier when Annan got caught in the 4th minute when Matthew Coopers cross come shot deceived Annan goalkeeper Greg Fleming and the shot ended up in the net via the post to give the visitors the best possible start.
Domnick Docherty was the man who grabbed the headlines with a superb hat trick as Annan took control of the second half to win the points that maintains Annan in a top four position.
This early goal gave Elgin City the impetus to take the game to Annan and the visitors made it an uncomfortable period in the match for Annan as the visitors continued to take the game to Annan, who’s first serious attempt on goal arrived in the 20th minute when Owen Moxon’s shot missed the target.
Neither keeper was seriously tested until Annan stuck gold in the 26th minute. It was a well worked goal. Aidan Smith was at the heart of the goal with a penetrating run up the left before picking out Chris Johnston who slipped the ball into the path of Domnick Docherty who finished with a low crisp shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Minutes later Chris Johnston’s inviting cross was headed narrowly wide by Owen Moxon as Annan started to have an impact on the match. At the other end of the park Greg Fleming came to Annan’s rescue pulling off a fine save to deny Connor O’Keefe who’s well directed shot was heading for the top corner of the net before Fleming saved the day for Annan. As half time approached Tommy Goss’s effort was pushed behind for a corner by keeper McHale.
At the start of the second half Tom Grivoski’s low effort had Fleming at full stretch who turned the effort round the post. Moxon’s 50th minute penetrating run from his own half took him past a couple of challenges before his run was stopped bythe challenge of McHardy inside the box, it had the Annan support calling for a penalty which were quickly brushed asideby the referee.
Swinglehurst sustained an injury as Elgin piled on the pressure forcing several corner kick’s but Annan defended the situation well. Tony Wallace was introduced at the expense of Lewis Hunter in the 61st minute. 3 minutes later Annan took the lead, again Aidan Smith was at the cenre of the move when he slipped the ball into the path of Domnick Docherty who guided the ball past keeper McHale from 8 yards.
Elgin were beginning to wilt under pressure as Annan pressed forward and in the 68th Tommy Goss and Docherty combined to set up Chris Johnston who’s effort over the keeper was picked up by Domnick Dochery who slotted the ball into the empty net to increase Annan’s advantage to 3-1.
Annan’s ten minute purple patch continued after they won a corner and from the resulting corner Tommy Goss’s header was headed on by Aidan Smith who’s header off the underside of the bar crossed the line.
Both teams made a series of changes Dingwell and Peters were introduced for Elgin and Aidan Smith and Tommy Goss went off to be replaced by Michael Garrity and Iain Anderson. Kyle Fleming replaced Chris Johnston and Jack Purdue replaced Man of the Match Domnick Docherty.
It was a satisfying performance from Annan particularly in the second half played in front of a meagre crowd on a wet dismal day but the victory was well deserved and keeps Annan well positioned at the top end of the league.