Arbroath’s League 2 revival suffered a jolt as key absentees played a part in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Elgin City.
Home goals early and late in the contest won the day for City, and Arbroath manager Todd Lumsden admitted his team was second best.
He pointed to recent injuries sustained by top scorer Bobby Linn and on-form Darren Ramsay as factors in his team’s failure to overly trouble Elgin.
The Red Lichties conceded a goal after just five minutes.
Both Craig Gunn and former Arbroath man Dylan Easton claimed the goal, with Gunn sweeping a Marc McKenzie cross past Allan Fleming and Easton claiming he got a touch before the ball crossed the line.
David Gold had a chance for the visitors when Elgin’s Cameron was caught in possession on the edge of his own box, but the midfielder’s thundering drive rebounded out off the chest of home keeper Mark Hurst.
Gunn saw a side-footed shot hit the inside of the post and into the arms of keeper Fleming on 58 minutes.
Two minutes later the striker had an effort cleared off the line and met the rebound with a volley which crashed back off the bar the third time Gunn had struck the woodwork in the match.
Fleming made an outstanding save on 69 minutes to pluck Elgin sub Connor McLaren’s 25-yard effort out of the top corner.
The visitors were struggling to break through a resolute home defence, and Elgin’s superior cutting edge finally gained its reward eight minutes from time. Gunn broke clear on the right and delivered a perfect cross for advancing midfielder Cameron to send a diving header past Fleming to clinch victory.