(17/08/2022 – NORTH OF SCOTLAND CUP QUARTER-FINAL – MOSSET PARK, FORRES)
LOSSIEMOUTH saw off FORRES MECHANICS to claim a place in the final four of the North of Scotland Cup. An early howitzer from Ryan Farquhar stung the hosts and a much-improved shift from Lossie saw the tourists extended their lead later in the first half with a goal from Ross Archibald. Lossie kept their composure and custody of their lead despite sustained pressure from Forres following the restart.
Lossie supporters of a certain vintage have happy memories of cup ties played at Mosset Park, with two of Lossie’s hat-trick of North Cup wins in the 90’s played out at the venue, along with their most recent success in 2004. However, a chastening start to the league campaign – combined with Forres seemingly upping their game, culminating with a win at Inverurie on the weekend – meant the game was viewed with some suspicion by the travelling support, but from the very first minute it was obvious this was a different Lossie from previous weeks. Ryan Farquhar was installed in a defensive role, and his running from the back with the ball through to the middle of the park meant the game had a totally different look from the early season losses.
Lossie immediately took the game to a ponderous Forres, and after five minutes Farquhar had Lossie in front, arrowed home from all of twenty-five yards, leaving goalkeeper Robert Donaldson pawing at thin air as the ball sailed almost in slow motion into the top corner.
Forres failed to match Lossie’s enthusiasm for the game and struggled to find a route out of defence that involved anything other than long passes over the top. The hosts looked decidedly rusty and were extremely wasteful, sending ball after ball out of play. Lossie lost Ross Elliott to injury thirteen minutes in, but his replacement Jack MacArthur quickly made himself at home as he tormented Forres down the left.
Ten minutes from the break, and with Forres still to make up their minds if they fancied getting involved in the game, Lossie doubled their lead. Forres failed to deal with a throw in and Ross Archibald pounced on the loose ball to score from inside the area.
HALF TIME – FORRES MECHANICS 0-2 LOSSIEMOUTH
The second half began with Forres doing more work in five minutes than they had in the previous forty-five as the reality of the situation dawned on them, but it was Lossie who created the first real chance of the half, as Ross Morrison charged down the wing before drifting a cross to the back post only to find no-one waiting. At the other end, James Leslie headed over his own bar as Forres finally came to the boil ahead of a sustained spell of pressure.
On the hour, Forres withdrew Ethan Cairns for Lee Fraser, and while the appearance of the giant forward would normally cause problems for any side, long balls towards Fraser from Donaldson were foiled by Leslie and McAndrew. Connall Ewan drew a one-handed save from Logan Ross but Lossie were not in the mood for conceding.
Lossie subbed on Harry Allen for Fraser Forbes twenty minutes from time, and the youngster drew a save from Donaldson with his first touch as Lossie tried to finish the game off. Forres also rang the changes, sending on Shaun Morrison and Harvey Henderson for Martin Groat and Callum Murray, with neither making much of an impact. Dale Wood rifled a shot over the bar from eighteen yards as Forres were forced to try their luck from further out, and anything closer to goal was dealt with by Logan Ross, who fell on an effort from Ryan MacLeman in the final minute of normal time to finally break the spirit of Forres.
Five minutes of injury time followed, mainly to make up for bouts of cramp suffered by Lossie players in the second half as their work rate and intensity caught up with them. The full-time whistle was a welcome sound, and was followed by news that Lossie will host Brora Rangers in the semi-finals of the competition on August 31st.
A road victory in the North of Scotland Cup last season at Nairn County turned out to be the win that set Lossie on their way to some strong performances and an ultimately entertaining season – here’s hoping for a repeat, starting at home to Wick Academy on Saturday.
FULL TIME – FORRES MECHANICS 0-2 LOSSIEMOUTH
TEAMS:
FORRES MECHANICS – Robert Donaldson; Andrew Skinner, Dale Wood, Ruari Fraser, Connall Ewan, Martin Groat (Shaun Morrison (69)), Callum Murray (Harvey Henderson (69)), Jack Grant, Ethan Cairns (Lee Fraser (59)), Ben Barron, Ryan MacLeman; UNUSED SUBS – Kane Davies, Thomas Brady, Lucas Davidson, Stuart M Knight
LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Ryan Farquhar, James Leslie, Lewis MacAndrew, Ryan O’Halloran, Niall Kennedy, Liam Archibald, Ross Morrison, Ross Archibald, Ross Elliott (Jack MacArthur (13)), Fraser Forbes (Harry Allen (68)); UNUSED SUBS – Michael Weir, Jared Kennedy, Kyle Morrison
GOALS:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Ryan Farquhar (5), Ross Archibald (36)
REFEREE:
Harry Bruce