In a rather uneventful first half it took until the 44^th minute for the first real chance of the afternoon. David Ritchie collected the ball in the box before turning Kevin Stuart and shooting wide of the far post.

One minute later Nikki SMITH received the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful shot which deflected off a defender right back to the ex Buckie Rovers man who scored at the second attempt with another fizzing shot.

Half time – Lossiemouth 1 Strathspey Thistle 0

Five minutes into the second half Nikki Smith down the left flank back heeled the ball to John Urquhart who played in a good cross which was just headed over the top by Shawn Scott.

On 53 minutes Kevin Flett down the left hand side played the ball into the feet of Nikki SMITH who turned his defender and fired the ball beyond Chris Bowles in the Strathspey goal.

Thistle pulled a goal back just one minute later when David Ross crossed the ball into the box where Brett MITCHELL swung his leg at it and the ball looped over Chris Stuart's head and into the back of the net.

Shawn Scott was controversially booked for diving on 57 minutes when he looked to have been pulled down in the box before John Urquhart, moving down the left hand side played and inviting ball across the goal where it was cleared by George Russell. John Urquhart was involved in the action again 10 minutes later when he played the ball in to Nikki Smith who flicked it on to Tony Ross whose powerful shot flew just wide.

Strathspey pulled level on 70 minutes when substitute Mateusz BOBROWSKI beat two Lossie defenders down the left hand side before powering the ball beyond Chris Stuart into the bottom far corner.

However the home side reclaimed the lead just one minute later when Tony Ross played the ball into the box where Shawn SCOTT expertly finished at the near post with a diving header. Lossie made it 4-2 on 82 minutes when substitute Scott Matheson down the right hand side beat Nicholas Mochan before delivering the ball to the back post where Nikki Smith missed a good chance to finish off his hat trick, but Kevin FLETT was on hand to net.

One minute into injury time Ross MacKenzie played the ball into the middle where David RITCHIE beat his man and shot the ball into the back of the net creating a nervy end to the match for the home side.

Full time – Lossiemouth 4 Strathspey Thistle 3

Teams

Lossiemouth - Chris Stuart; Steven Sim, John Urquhart, Craig Donaldson, Kevin Stuart, Martin McMullan, Sean McIntosh, Daniel Smith, Shawn Scott, Nikki Smith, Kevin Flett
Strathspey Thistle - Chris Bowles; Terry Swinton, Nicholas Mochan, George Russell, Andrew McLeod, Jamie Rodgers, Brett Mitchell, Ross MacKenzie, Tolga Dagtas, David Ritchie, David Ross

Lossiemouth - Tony Ross (Sean McIntosh, 64), Scott Matheson (Shawn Scott, 73), Michael Smith (Nikki Smith, 84)
Strathspey Thistle - Joe Hardie (Andrew McLeod, 60), Sandis Reinsons (Brett Mitchell, 60), Mateusz Bobrowski (Tolga Dagtas, 68)

Lossiemouth - None
Strathspey Thistle - None