Selkirk’s fairy-tale start to the season has seen them score goals for fun during early league and cup encounters.

And their flowing brand of football has rightly earned them plaudits.

But last Wednesday evening the run ended and, probably more worrying, the eye-catching football also disappeared.

It was Selkirk’s sternest test of the season so far – and they failed miserably.

Manager Stevie Forrest told us: “They didn’t do a single thing that was asked of them.

“They can all run around as individuals or group together and start playing like a team again – I know which one will work.

“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement – I’m disgusted with that performance.” The Souters enjoyed a bright enough start amidst the gloom of the darkening city.

Garry O’Connor flashed a shot a foot wide inside the opening five minutes and a Phil Addison effort landed on the roof of the net with Andrew Stobie beaten.

But the league leaders looked dangerous with through balls and the pace of their wide players.

A couple of home crosses went agonisingly close to being converted inside the opening half hour.

City’s opener came on 34 minutes – and it carried some amount of fortune.

Ross Guthrie’s 25-yard low shot bobbled on the uneven surface and evaded the outstretched arms of Jamie Newman to find the net.

Selkirk responded with Jordan Orain charging out of defence to slip a pass to Addison and his one-two with O’Connor took out the defence only for Stobie to save the close-range shot.

Within a minute City were two up.

A long clearance was missed by the visiting defenders and John Dunn sprinted onto the ball to round Newman and score.

Anyone hoping for a second-half revival by Selkirk was sorely let down.

Despite having plenty possession they couldn’t find a way through the impressive City defence.

Fraser Paterson and former Cowdenbeath favourite Joseph Mbu made sure that neither O’Connor nor Addison were getting a sniff of the target.

Apart from the energy and drive of Jon McInally, wide on the right, Selkirk offered little threat.

And O’Connor collected, what was to be, a costly booking for barging through Mbu as he attempted to get on the end of a rare cross.

On the 86th minute another long clearance split Orain and Guiney for Ross Allum to run through and score the third.

Juilo Tonnelle and Guiney both went close to grabbing a late consolation as injury time arrived.

But there was still time for O’Connor to pick up his second yellow for taking out his frustration with a swinging boot at Ian MacFarland in the final minute.

Manager Forrest added: “It was silly of Garry and he knows it. It was a frustrating night for all of us.” Selkirk: J Newman, Y Bechairi, J Tonnelle, S Guiney, J Orain, D Johnston, P Addison (B Milven 83), S Anderson (C Scott 46), G O’Connor, B Huteau (O See 75) & J McInally.