16/10/2021 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH

Lossiemouth landed all three points as they successfully navigated their way past Fort William at Grant Park. With Fort still unable to host games at Claggan Park, Lossie made the most of their familiar surroundings and were a goal up at half time following Ryan Sewell’s penalty, and Brodie Allen’s second half header gave the visitors breathing space.

Lossie took to the field with the same starting eleven that took a point from Formartine last weekend. Fort showed up a little short handed, with just three subs on the bench, two of whom were listed as trialists. The other – Marios Avraams – had scored against Lossie when the sides met at Grant Park back in August, but had to watch from the bench before appearing in the second half.

Fort had been in the area in midweek as they lost 9-1 at Buckie Thistle but started briskly with Connor Moore firing wide in the opening minutes. Lossie replied with a Brodie Allen effort that drifted wide of goal.

With Fort still scrapping to escape the relegation playoff spot and Lossie knowing a draw would be enough to keep them out of trouble for some time to come, the game was never destined to be a classic and the first half was an edgy affair. Oliver Kelly was called upon to save at the feet of Robbie Foster, while Darren Brew later drew a save from the young goalkeeper.

Six minutes from the break, Lossie were awarded a penalty. Alexander White bundled over Ross Morrison inside the area and referee Gordon Morrison pointed to the spot. Ryan Sewell stepped up to face Mariusz Kulbacki, but the goalkeeper – who had saved two spot-kicks in midweek at Victoria Park – couldn’t get a hand to Sewell’s effort which evaded the keeper as he dived to his right.

The second half was as tense as the first, with long spells of midfield action only briefly punctuated by efforts in front of goal. A rake of subs from both sides upset what little rhythm the game had, but it was one of the Lossie replacements who set up the second goal of the game. Ryan Stuart had only just come on for Ross Morrison when he aimed a cross in the direction of Brodie Allen, and the forward got his head to the ball to score his his third goal in four outings.

The remainder of the game dragged on as Fort tried to find a way back into proceedings and Lossie did their best to see out time, but other than a couple of late efforts from Sewell chances were at a premium. Fort’s failure to score for the first time in six games meant Lossie were on their way to three points, and the Coasters ran down the clock before breathing a sigh of relief. .

Fort remain bottom of the table and still without a win in all competitions this season, and still in a fight to avoid the relegation playoff. Lossie ended the day in twelfth and a long way clear of the scrap at the bottom.

TEAMS:

FORT WILLIAM – Mateusz Kulbacki; David Nyembwe, Bradley Fangas, Aidan Taylor (C) (Callum Browett (61)), Alexander White, Joseph Owusu-Barnieh, Ruairidh MacDonald, Darren Brew, Robbie Foster, Blessings Tshibikubula (Garry McIvor (81)), Connor Moore (Marios Avraam (51))

LOSSIEMOUTH – Oliver Kelly; Michael Weir, Lewis McAndrew, Fergus Edwards, Jared Kennedy, Liam Archibald (C), Connor Macaulay, Ryan Sewell (Niall Kennedy (88)), Ross Morrison (Ryan Stuart (62)), Brodie Allen, Ross Elliott (Ryan Farquhar (15)); UNUSED SUBS – Ross Archibald, James Leslie, Logan Ross

GOALS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Ryan Sewell (43, pen), Brodie Allen (65)

REFEREE – Gordon Morrison