Airdrie United vs Elgin City

Rankin changed his entire outfield XI at half-time, fielding a completely fresh set of players including Yates, Mebude and seven trialists. The wholesale changes disrupted whatever rhythm Airdrie had built before the break and the second half became a disjointed affair with limited clear-cut chances.

Elgin nearly snatched the lead in the 68th minute when an Airdrie trialist goalkeeper made a sharp stop to deny an Elgin trialist striker one-on-one. From the rebound, City captain Russell Dingwall's lobbed effort landed on the roof of the net.

Craig Ross should have won it for Airdrie from a corner, but he got under the ball and powered his header over the bar from three yards, punching the post in frustration. Another trialist curled a strike straight at the Elgin goalkeeper from 10 yards with 13 minutes remaining.

• Robbie Mahon (Airdrieonians): Took his goal clinically and was a threat from set pieces, forcing a goal-line clearance from a first-half corner. A composed performance on a day dominated by trialists.
• Jack MacIver (Elgin City): Alert finish after capitalising on Airdrie's defensive error. Led the line effectively in the first half.
• Joe Morrison (Elgin City): Made crucial saves in both halves, including the point-blank stop from Airdrie's trialist after Iserhienrhien's break.

The match produced two goals from a combined six shots on target across the 90 minutes, according to the official data. Both goals arrived in a frantic seven-minute spell inside the opening quarter. The complete change of Airdrie's XI at half-time — 10 outfield substitutions — effectively turned the game into two separate 45-minute contests, making second-half continuity almost impossible. Elgin, who made fewer changes, had the clearer chances after the break but could not convert.

This was the first pre-season friendly for both Scottish clubs. Airdrieonians — who compete in Scottish League One — are in the early stages of a major squad rebuild under Rankin, who described his squad as a "blank canvas" earlier in the week (Daily Record, 27 June). The Diamonds next face Championship side Ayr United away on 4 July. Elgin City, of Scottish League Two, continue their preparations with further friendlies to be announced.

A predictable pre-season stalemate shaped by Airdrie's reliance on trialists and a radical half-time reset. The raw ingredients are there — Mahon looks sharp, Iserhienrhien showed movement — but Rankin needs time and bodies before competitive action begins against Dundee in the Premier Sports Cup on 11 July.