Elgin City were looking for their first league win on the road since October last. In the first half, they enjoyed the upper hand with only a single goal to show for their efforts at the break.
Shire didn't pose much threat in attack, and it was generally the home defence against an eager visiting attack.
Despite their superiority, it was 29 minutes before they broke the deadlock from a free-kick situation.
Adam Nelson delivered a vicious in-swinging ball into a crowded penalty area, and a head flick landed at the feet of William Martin. who had no trouble picking his spot from 12 yards.
Any hopes of a Shire comeback were dealt a severe blow two minutes into the restart. James McKenzie whipped in a corner from the left which travelled right across the goalmouth to Martin on the far edge of the box. He returned the ball low and hard into the six yard area, where Stephen Donnachie finished the move with a neat back-heel.
It could have been much worse for Shire when keeper Ross Gilpin saved them from going further behind with a miracle save from a Donnachie header after Martin had again supplied the cross.
Shire contuned to huff and puff without making any headway, and it was down to Shire's man-of-the match Gilpin to keep the goal line respectable with a mixture of brave and super stops.
Four minutes from time, Elgin's trialist central defender completed the scoring with a fine header from another McKenzie corner.