They enjoyed the bulk of the possession but failed to create many clear-cut chances against a very ordinary Elgin side.

And their cause wasn't help by some shocking refereeing decisions, the worst of the lot coming just on the half-hour when the whistler saw fit to brandish red at Stuart Ferguson for a midfield tackle that deserved yellow at the most.

That left Dick Campbell's charges with an uphill task for the best part of an hour and, although they continue to enjoy the lion's share of possession, they fell behind in 60 minutes, when Steve MacKay fired home a first-time volley from a Ross O'Donoghue cross.

To be fair, the Loons never gave up, and it took a point-blank stop by Elgin keeper Andy McNulty to prevent Kevin McLeish from firing home the leveller after the midfielder had made space for himself in the box.

With the visitors holding on for all three points there was still time for the ref to make a further fool of himself, needlessly producing a second yellow to O'Donoghue, this reducing both teams to ten men in a game which, at most, warranted but one yellow card.

But that's what the fans are forced to put up with these days, with common sense decision-making out the window and production-line refs sticking rigidly to what they deem to be the rules.