(01/08/2009 – SCOT-ADS HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)

For the second season in a row, Lossiemouth kicked off their league campaign with a comfortable win over Fort William at Grant Park. Goals from Martin McMullan, Gary McNichol, Craig Donaldson and Nikki Smith saw the Coasters go one better than last year and record a 5-1 win.

Problems with summer drainage work at Claggan Park saw the fixture moved to Lossiemouth in the week before the game. Lossiemouth were without Shawn Scott (suspended), Kevin Flett and Scott Matheson, while Fort carried on with the previous years squad following delays to the Americas Team project. 

As with most games between these two, the opening stages took place at full pace, with a few meaty challenges setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

Lossie took the lead on 25 minutes, when Martin McMullan rose highest at the back post to head home a corner from John Urquhart.

The Coasters were two ahead just after the half hour. Tony Ross and Nikki Smith combined on the edge of the box to set up Martin McMullan for his second of the game, this time a right footed finish from six yards.

The lead was reduced almost immediately, however, as Fort fought back. Andy Martin hit a speculative shot low across the face of goal from the edge of the area, past a diving Chris Stuart and in off the far post.

Fort were almost level moments later, when Michael Mulligan fired an acrobatic effort over his shoulder. The ball looped up and over Chris Stuart before rattling the top of the bar, which meant Lossie avoided throwing away a two goal lead in successive games. 

HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 2-1 FORT WILLIAM

The game continued at pace into the second half, with Nikki Smith firing wide from a dozen yards in the opening minutes. Lossie were not to be denied a third goal, and Gary McNichol rifled the ball home from the edge of the box.

Lossie smelt blood and pressed for more goals. They were rewarded with a fourth on 66 minutes, Tony Ross crossing for Craig Donaldson to power a header into the ground and up and beyond three men on the line.

The goalscoring was complete on 72 minutes when Nikki Smith lobbed Ryan Hunter from 18 yards to score his third goal of the season.

With the game won and lost, the players took time out from football to indulge in a spot of squabbling. A long-simmering feud between McMullan and Shields finally boiled over, and players piled in from all over pitch to offer their own sides to the argument. Chests were puffed out, angry faces were pulled and hands were raised but, as with most football rucks, it was mostly handbags at ten paces. Fort found themselves down to nine men once referee Billy Baxter pulled everyone apart, sending off Shields and Martin Kerr before booking Jordan Main and McMullan.

With the referee feeling his work was done, he saw no reason to award Lossie either of the two very good penalty shouts for fouls on Sean McIntosh, and Lossie played out another successful curtain raiser with no further drama.

Despite a healthy goal difference following this result, Lossie were held from a place at the top of the league by a rampant Wick Academy, who crushed Strathspey Thistle 8-1. Lossie host Wick this coming weekend to see who stays top heading into Week 3. 

FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 5-1 FORT WILLIAM

TEAMS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Chris Stuart; Steven Sim, Sam Milton (Sean McIntosh (85)), Kevin Stuart (Trialist (42)), Craig Donaldson, Gary Macdonald (Michael Smith (15)), Tony Ross, Martin McMullan, Nikki Smith, Gary McNichol, John Urquhart; UNUSED SUBS – Michael Macgregor, Darren McConnachie

FORT WILLIAM – Ryan Hunter; Ian Foggo, Peter Kelly (Daniel Macintosh (46)), Simon Shields, Mark Gillespie, Martin Kerr, Michael Ellis, Andy Martin, Andy Maclean (Darren Quigg (67)), Richard Finnis (Roddy MacPhee (67)), Michael Milligan; UNUSED SUBS – John Bamber

GOALS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Martin McMullan (25, 31),  Gary McNichol (59), Craig Donaldson (66), Nikki Smith (72)

FORT WILLIAM – Andy Martin (32)

SENT OFF:

FORT WILLIAM – Martin Kerr (80), Simon Shields (80)

REFEREE:

Billy Baxter