Lossiemouth collected their first away points of the season filling wing a hard fought victory over Strathspey Thistle. First half goal from Ryan Farquhar and Scott Miller either side of an equaliser put the Coasters ahead and, despite the sendings off of Scott Hendry and Grant Mitchell, no more goals were forthcoming on a grim day in Grantown.
Lossie started with Darren Bailey on the park, with Kevin Flett joining him in the starting eleven. Willie Mathers was left on the bench, while Matty Davidson missed out.
Proceedings began in monsoon conditions and with the hills shrouded in mist and the floodlights on from well before kick-off, questions were asked pre-match as to whether or not the game would go ahead or reach a conclusion.
The game was only three minutes old when Lossie opened the scoring. Darren Bailey thundered into the box before playing the ball across the face of goal, and Ryan FARQUHAR was at the back post to fire home.
Ryan Farquhar slides home the opener after three minutes
Lossie looked by far the better team in the opening stages of the game but Strathspey slowly came out of their shell and were level within twenty minutes. A Lossie attack broke down and a long ball over the top gave Josh PETERS a one-on-one chance with Errol Watson, and the youngster coolly rounded the keeper on the edge of the box before slotting home the equaliser.
Ten minutes before the interval, Lossie took the lead from the penalty spot. Scott Hendry andGrant Mitchell tangled in the Strathspey penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. With the two dozen bemused and soaked punters looking at each other wondering what exactly had happened, the referee the sent off the equally bemused and soaked Hendry and Mitchell, and Scott MILLER stepped up to put Lossie ahead again.
Half time – Strathspey 1-2 Lossiemouth
As the interval passed, conditions brightened, and as hills in the backgroud appeared so did the players for the second half. With both teams down to ten men and playing on a heavy pitch, the second half was never going to be a classic.
Lossie came close to adding to their lead when they were awarded a free kick on the corner of the 18 yard box. Callum Dunbar stepped up and curled the ball up and over the wall, only to see it dip a fraction over the crossbar.
Dunbar watches his free kick dip over the bar
The last real chance for Lossie came with twenty minutes remaining. Liam Archibald took possession just inside the area with his back to goal before turning and sending a low shot across the face of goal. The ball rolled slowly through the mass of players and and inch past the far post.
The win moves Lossie above Rothes and into 15th place, but Fort Williams surprise win at Keith means the bottom four are separated by only four points, with Strathspey Thistle now the strongest team in the league after today’s results.
Full time – Strathspey Thistle 1-2 Lossiemouth