(12/08/2023 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)
Lossiemouth were much improved on a wild day at Grant Park but were left without anything to show for their efforts after Formartine United recovered from a goal down to win. Ryan Farquhar had given Lossie the lead in the third minute, only for the tourists to scrap their way into the lead ahead of half time.
The Coasters handed starts to Michael Weir and Brandon Hutcheson, while Fergus Edwards and Ross Elliott were absent. Formartine went into the game on the back of a healthy home win over Strathspey Thistle and had former Lossie player Errol Watson on the bench.
The game kicked off in warm conditions that didn’t match the cloud cover and darkening skies, suggesting weather was likely later in the afternoon. From the first whistle, Lossie were much improved from the shift against Forres and were rewarded for their smart start to the game with the opening goal in the third minute. Ryan Farquhar stooped to head home a cross from Ross Paterson, sending the ball down to the base of the post and under Ewen Macdonald, who could only watch as the ball squirmed below him and into the net.
Formartine weren’t for hanging about in the hunt for an equaliser and Julian Wade went close with their first chance of the game, prodding the ball wide of goal after a spell of possession in front of the Lossie penalty area. The equaliser came not long after, with Paul Campbell credited with the final touch amid shouts for offside and a legitimate claim for handball in the buildup.
Lossie were unfazed by the leveller and set about scoring a second. Liam Archibald got a touch on a low ball across the face of goal from Paterson but sent it just beyond the frame of the goal and out for a goal kick. At the other end, Wade found space to get his head to a Daniel Park corner but his header went wide.
With the skies ominously darkening, Formartine stole into the lead seconds from half time, with Campbell getting his second of the game for the visitors.
HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-2 FORMARTINE UNITED
The interval saw the grey skies blacken and those stood waiting for the players to return spent their time listening to booming thunder and watching the lightning show on display above the ground. By the time the second half began, almost all had sought cover as the heavens opened and quickly drenched everyone.
The second half was eight minutes old when Lossie were appealing for a penalty. Macdonald received the ball to feet and took a heavy touch, allowing Farquhar to sprint in to contest the loose ball. Farquhar ended up shoved to the ground as Macdonald sought to reclaim possession, but Lossie’s appeals for a penalty were ignored by the match officials.
The rain kept on coming down and the appearance of James Leslie changed things up for Lossie at the back, so much so that Formartine’s Aidan Combe ended up being subbed off for trying one sliding tackle too many on the Lossie player.
The closing ten minutes of the game saw conditions improve and things settle down after constant stoppage for subs. The best chance of the run-in went the way of Lossie, but Paterson could only stab the ball over the bar from the edge of the area.
The final whistle came all too early for a Lossie side that turned in their best performance of the season so far only to lose narrowly for the third game in a row. The Coasters now head for Huntly in midweek before hosting Brora Rangers on Saturday.
FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-2 FORMARTINE UNITED
TEAMS…
LOSSIEMOUTH – Cameron Farquhar; Michael Weir (James Leslie (59)), Jared Kennedy, Dean Stewart, Ryan O’Halloran, Liam Archibald (Ross Archibald (81)), Ryan Farquhar, Ross Paterson, Brandon Hutcheson, Niall Kennedy (Ross Morrison (70)), Ryan Stuart; UNUSED SUBS – Ally Bellingham, Lewis Mcandrew, Noah Murray, Cairn Lasley, Oliver Kelly
FORMARTINE UNITED – Ewen Macdonald; Jonathan Crawford, Stuart Smith, Kieran Adams, Matthew McLean, Daniel Park, Julian Wade, Graeme Rodger, Paul Campbell (Jake Stewart (70)), Aaron Norris (Marc Lawrence (77)), Aidan Combe (Scott Lisle (67)); UNUSED SUBS – Ryan Spink, Stuart Anderson, Errol Watson
GOALS:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Ryan Farquhar (3)
FORMARTINE UNITED – Paul Campbell (20, 45)
REFEREE: Gordon Seago
