A patchwork Peterhead side that featured five players trying to secure contracts for next season from the start went down 2-0 to Elgin City in the Final of the 100th Anniversary Tournament at Borough Briggs.
Andrew McCarthy, Robbie McGale, Ryan Dow, Paul Dixon and Hamish Ritchie, who all started in Saturday’s penalty kick success over Inverurie Locos, dropped to the bench with David Wilson and the soon to be signed Danny Strachan moving in the opposite direction. Jason Brown, Andrew McDonald, Conor O’Keefe and Jack Brown kept their places in a game where the Peterhead management looked to have put the chance to see trialists in match action ahead of fully competing for early season silverware. Owen Cairns, who played the second half of last season with the Blue Toon, was due to face the Balmoor side after agreeing a two-year contract with the hosts, however he dropped out of the starting line-up just before kick-off and was replaced by Kenny MacIness.
Trialist A in the Peterhead goal was tested for the first time in nine minutes however he was able to deal with a shot from long distance with the shot-stopper also saving from Fin Allen nine minutes later. Midway through the first half a free-kick was swung into the Peterhead box and found Jake Dolzanski however the defender headed wide.
The hosts were on top and they got their noses in front on 27 minutes when Allen prodded home from close range with Brian Cameron missing the chance to grab a second seven minutes from the break when he mis-fired at the back post. A second goal did arrive just as the first half was drawing to a close when a corner caught the Peterhead defence napping and Jevon Anderson took advantage to slot in. Elgin were denied a three-goal lead at the interval when Trialist A made a smart stop from Russell Dingwall.
The Peterhead management team decided to freshen things up at the interval with Robbie McGale and Andrew McCarthy coming on for Trialist F and O’Keefe. The move made Peterhead a more solid outfit however they still struggled to make a dent on the home defence. Elgin carved out chances for Dylan Lawrence who fired high over and Kane Hester who glanced a header wide. Dixon came on for Jason Brown with 15 minutes left with Andrew McDonald denying his former side an even more impressive win with two late goalline clearances.
Assistant manager David Nicholls – post match
