(19/02/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)

LOSSIEMOUTH lost at home for the first time since mid-December as FRASERBURGH carried on their quest to win the Breedon Highland League championship. The Broch were far from the fluid footballing force seen back in October but did enough to land the three points necessary to send them clear at the top of the table.

Lossie were denied the services of Logan Ross due to injury so Oliver Kelly hung on to the gloves for another week, and Dean Stewart was ruled out due to Covid. Fraserburgh were given a good test of their title credentials ten days ago when Buckie Thistle beat them on their own patch, but they followed up the loss with a seven goal thrashing of Clach and – with Buckie idle – arrived at Grant Park in the mood to make hay while the sun made a rare appearance.

One of only two games to beat the weather as Storm Eunice blew her way across the north, Grant Park escaped almost all of the snow, rain and sleet that had landed on the north of the country and the game kicked off in bright winter sunshine. Fraserburgh wasted no time in taking the lead, scoring inside of three minutes while stragglers from the social club were still filtering into the ground. Liam Archibald’s attempt to clear a cross from Scott Barbour didn’t go to plan and the ball cannoned off Logan Watt and into the net.

Half an hour in, Fraserburgh were offered the chance to double their lead after a curious piece of refereeing. Whistler Kevin Buchanan awarded the hosts an indirect free-kick on the edge of the area, even though whatever foul he had seen occured a good yard inside the area, and Grant Campbell teed up Barbour to sweep home left-footed as the wall attempted to charge down the ball.

Rarely willing to gamble with throwing themselves forward for fear of getting caught out, Lossie only occasionally threatened at the other end, but were at least keeping the Broch quiet. The interval arrived with the Broch leading but not by enough to stop the home fans feeling oddly optimistic about seeing their side get back into the game.

With an hour gone, Lossie were indeed back in the game – and how! A through ball over the top tempted Fraserburgh goalkeeper Paul Leask to venture out of his area and head the ball clear of the box. Leask made a sound connection but the ball travelled straight to Ryan Farquhar who, from almost forty yards, caught it perfectly first time and pinged it straight back over the goalkeeper, high into the sky before coming back down to land on the line before bouncing into the net as Leask slid after it. The quality of the finish was enough to rattle the Broch, who afterwards only rarely looked like they were way above Lossie in the table. In the closing stages, neither keeper was properly tested as the temperature dropped and the teams began to flag on a heavy surface.

With Lossie pressing but failing to force an equaliser, the Broch settled matters as normal time expired. Second-half sub Sean Butcher finished off a move featuring Barbour and Paul Young, helping Fraserburgh over the line and allowing the travelling fans to breathe easily as they trooped out of the ground.

Lossie remain in fifteenth in the table, while Fraserburgh put some distance between themselves and Buckie Thistle at the top of the table. The Broch now lead the Jags by three points after 23 games each, with Fraserburgh also possessing a healthy goal difference advantage.

TEAMS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Oliver Kelly; James Leslie, Fergus Edwards, Lewis McAndrew, Michael Weir, Ross Morrison (Aleksander Matczak (90)), Liam Archibald, Connor Macaulay, Ryan Stuart, Ryan Farquhar, Ross Archibald (Max Taylor (80)), Ross Archibald; UNUSED SUBS – Lewis Mullen, Niall Kennedy, Jared Kennedy, Fraser Forbes, Dey

FRASERBURGH– Paul Leask; Ross Aitken, Bryan Hay, Kieran Simpson, Ross Cowie, Grant Campbell, Paul Young, Logan Watt (Sean Butcher (67)), Aidan Combe (Paul Campbell (60)), Scott Barbour, Ryan Sargent (William West (87)); UNUSED SUBS – Lewis Davidson, Liam Duncan, Gary Harris, Joe Barbour

GOALS:

Lossiemouth – Ryan Farquhar (60)

Fraserburgh – Logan Watt (2), Scott Barbour (28), Sean Butcher (90)

REFEREE:

Kevin Buchanan