The starting line-up was possibly the strongest available for the home side. The only changes from the Airdrie United game were that Willie Martin was in for Phil Reid after recovering from his foot injury, Hugh Dickson was in for trialist Paul Kaczan who started on the bench and first choice keeper Martin Pirie was in goal ahead of new signing Kieron Renton.
Elgin started off the better side and went close after a few minutes when a rebound fell to Adam Nelson, the former Blackburn player hit a clean shot from twenty yards but the Rothes keeper comfortably caught it.
The SFL team were passing the ball about well, showing the gulf in quality between the two sides but every time Elgin got into the box, Rothes had it packed with players making it almost impossible to get in any decent chances. Alex Bone went the closest when he picked up the ball, beat four players but scuffed his shot wide of goal. Martin, whose lack of match practice was showing, had a great chance to lay in Nelson but the opportunity was wasted.
Ten minutes before half time the game turned a bit dirty. A Rothes midfielder brought down Martin leading to all the players clashing and the referee had to calm everyone down. The interesting thing about this challange was that in the North Cup last season, Martin broke the leg of the same player that had just hacked him down. Nothing came from the resultant freekick as Jamie McKenzie smashed it into the wall.
With Rothes sitting back and defending and just playing long balls from their defence, it looked like an Elgin win was inevitable as the sides headed in for half time.
The second half started really slowly and Elgin were still finding it hard to break down the Highland League team. Around the hour mark, Pirie finally got his first piece of action, saving an 18 yard drive. Elgin again went close a few times after a sucession of corners but Rothes' defence was still just too much.
Elgin started to throw people forward in search of a goal and Rothes took advantage of this. From a long ball, Phillip Cruickshank drilled in a cross to Ord whose deflected shot went past Pirie.
Elgin looked for an equaliser, but Rothes were determined to hold on to this win and Elgin simply couldn't break them down.