Shire produced the first good move of the opening half with Johnny Walker picking out Ally Graham, who side-footed the ball into the path of Iain Diack. The striker's finish was bang on target, but Elgin City keeper Kieron Renton smartly turned the ball over the bar to concede the corner.
At the other end Shire keeper Aaron Gillespie almost gifted the visitors an opening goal when he dashed from his goal-line to intercept Chris Gardiner. The Elgin City striker beat him to the ball, but somehow shot wide of the empty net.
Shire may have escaped this time, but Gillespie was involved again when he rather clumsily broght dowm Martin Johnstone to give away a penalty. Garry Wood made no mistake from 12 yards to give Elgin a one-goal cushon at the interval.
Both sides were forced to introduce substitutes at the restart, and Elgin new boy Garry Wood should have had two goals almost immediately but put both of his efforts wide of the upright.
Shire were never really in the hunt as an attacking force, but substitute Andrew Brand had a shot well saved by Kieron Renton.
Wood was unlucky when he saw a shot come back off the woodwork, but he was at least involved in sealing the points for the visitors. He dispossessed Mark Tyrrell, who had dwelt far too long on the ball in defence, before setting up Johnstone to slot home from 15 yards.
With five minutes left there was little chance for a Shire come-back.