(21/03/2009 – SCOT-ADS HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)
Lossie recorded a win against Shire opposition for the second March in a row, this time upsetting Huntly at Grant Park. Scott Matheson scored the only goal of the game, but Huntly will feel aggrieved to not have walked away with at least a point.
The visitors wasted no time in testing the Lossie defence, with Calum Reid clearing a dangerous cross from Neil Reid in the first minute. Seconds later, Huntly were back again, when Michael Ewen set up Russell Guild for a shot that bobbled wide. The first shot at goal came in the fourth minute from Michele Lombardi, who finished a mazy run with a strike at goal from 25 yards, ending with the ball going just wide.
Lossie took until the tenth minute to get into gear, and it took a well timed tackle from former Coaster Michael Morrison on Jamie Bagley to prevent the opening goal. The Lossie youngster, played in by Tony Ross, powered through the Huntly defence and was ready to strike from the edge of the area when Morrison intervened.
Darren McConnachie was keeping Lossie in the game with a string of fine stops. His gloves were warmed by a long range effort from Craig Dorrat, and Russell Guild was next to force a save. Huntly were becoming ever more desperate, and Stuart Sloane snatched at a shot, forcing the ball wide from 15 yards.
Lossie came closest to opening the scoring as the half drew to a close. Stuart Lamberton found himself in a shooting position following a spilled save by Ross Bremner, but could only rattle the visitors crossbar.
HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 0-0 HUNTLY
Huntly continued to look the more likely to open the scoring as the second half progressed. Russell Guild missed the target again, heading wide from the edge of the six yard box, before Lombardi did likewise. Michael Ewen took advantage of an error by John Urquhart to test McConnachie, only to find the keeper in no mood for conceding.
Lossie drew breath after several close shaves and looked to create chances of their own. Scott Matheson found himself clean through on goal but found the mostly idle Bremner quick off his line to block the shot.The opening goal was only delayed by that save, and Bremner was helpless as Lossie went into the lead with twenty minutes left. Stuart Lamberton crossed from the right to a wide open Matheson, who took a touch to beat a falling Neil Reid before rifling home from a dozen yards.
The hosts could have doubled their lead minutes later when Calum Reid and Scott Matheson combined to set up Jamie Bagley, but Huntly recovered to deflect his shot wide of goal.
The final chance of the afternoon fell to Huntly. Stuart Sloane set up Michael Morrison for a last gasp leveller, but his shot sailed high over the bar and out of the ground, to the delight of them home support and management alike.
FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-0 HUNTLY
TEAMS:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Darren McConnachie; Kyle Stewart (George Russell (77)), Calum Reid, Kevin Stuart (Stuart Lamberton (31)), JJ Urquhart, Scott Stuart (Dan Smith (57)), Tony Ross, Michael Smith, John Mutch, Scott Matheson, Jamie Bagley; UNUSED SUBS – Sean McIntosh, Michael Macgregor
GOALS:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Scott Matheson (71)