Match Reports 2021/22

Lossiemouth 1-1 Strathspey Thistle – Match Report

(09/04/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE, GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)

LOSSIEMOUTH moved onto thirty points for the season with a draw at home against STRATHSPEY THISTLE, but it could have been more had Thistle not levelled with a late penalty. An own goal in the first half had given Lossie the lead, and time was almost up on the visitors when they were handed a penalty five minutes from the end, which Jake Thomson tucked away.

Lossie were without Lewis McAndrew and Ryan Farquhar as the hosts went into their penultimate game of the season, while Strathspey arrived relieved to have seen off the unlikely threat of being caught by Fort William and started with former Coasters Kris Duncan and Liam McDade in the starting line-up.

A freezing cold morning in Lossie gave way to a sunny afternoon, but the early stages failed to do the day justice as both teams looked happy just to be seeing out the season. Strathspey started well and applied some early pressure, forcing Logan Ross to command his area but the young goalkeeper took care of what came his way.

Lossie on the defensive early on – click on the image for more

Ross was involved in the opening goal midway through the first half. A kick from hand caught the wind and sailed the length of the park, and once in the Strathspey area Liam McDade made an unfortunate connection and deflected the ball beyond MacCallum and into the net via the upright.

The half ended well for Lossie, who came close to a second through Ross Morrison who fired just over the bar from long range.

HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-0 STRATHSPEY THISTLE

The second half started with Lossie still looking to end the game with a second goal and Morrison went close again in the first minute after the restart, ratting the post from inside the area. Baylee Campbell should have made sure of the points shortly after, with his strong run from midfield taking him through on goal and round MacCallum only to fire narrowly wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.

Lossie on the offensive early on in the second half – click on the image for more

Campbell put the miss behind him to contribute fully in the remaining time, but Lossie just could not find the final touch in the area to put the ball into the net.

The Coasters were made to pay five minutes from time when a ball into the area caused similar problems to that which saw Lossie take the lead, and James Leslie tangled with Andrew Skinner to cause a debate between the officials as to what to do. Unfortunately for Lossie, they settled on a penalty, and Jake Thomson drilled the ball below Ross to tie things up.

The performance had taken a lot out of Lossie and the closing five minutes saw the hosts look instantly leggy, and Logan Ross was called upon to save from Ross Logan in the final minute to make sure the hosts earned a point.

Lossie host Brechin City on the final weekend of the season, while Strathspey have games against Fort William and Inverurie Loco Works to close out their campaign.

FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-1 STRATHSPEY THISTLE

TEAMS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Fergus Edwards (Niall Kennedy (87)), Michael Weir, Jared Kennedy, Dean Stewart, Liam Archibald, Connor Macaulay, James Leslie, Ryan Stuart, Ross Morrison (Ross Archibald (70)), Baylee Campbell; UNUSED SUBS – Fraser Forbes, Max Taylor, Aiden Fletcher, Danny Hall

STRATHSPEY THISTLE -Michael MacCallum; Andrew Skinner, Liam McDade, Jack Gilland, Jordan Wardrope, Craig Mackenzie, Joe Cuthbert, Ross Logan, Kris Duncan (Jordan Shaw (75)), Dylan Lawrence, Jack Davidson (Jake Thomson (56)); UNUSED SUBS – Ashley Ballam, Jack Wardrop

GOALS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Liam McDade (25, OG)

STRATHSPEY THISTLE – Jake Thomson (85, pen)

REFEREE:

Gordon Seago

Nairn County 0-1 Lossiemouth – Match Report

(02/04/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE, STATION PARK, NAIRN)

LOSSIEMOUTH snapped a twenty-year run without a league win away to NAIRN COUNTY with a win at a sunny Station Park. Connor Macaulay scored the winning goal early in the second half, giving Lossie a deserved lead which the Coasters held onto despite sustained Nairn pressure late in the game.

Sunny Nairn lived up to her reputation and delivered a cloudless sky under which Lossie could enjoy their final way game of the season against a Nairn side as unhappy at home as Lossie have been on the road this season. Lossie had already won at the ground in the North of Scotland Cup and followed it up with a draw at Grant Park, so hopes were high of leaving with something.

Lossie on the defensive – click on the image for more

Despite the perfect conditions, neither side created solid chances in the first half, with the bulk of the game being played in the middle third of the pitch. Crosses into both penalty areas were comfortably dealt with by both goalkeepers, who were left watching on as the teams went at each other downfield. Ryan Stuart – who scored a hat-trick in his last game at the ground – set up a pair chances for team mates Dean Stewart and Fergus Edwards, but both times the ball ended up going over the bar.

HALF TIME – NAIRN COUNTY 0-0 LOSSIEMOUTH

The second half was nine minutes old when Lossie took the lead. Connor Macaulay took up possession in midfield and strode forward before lashing a shot at goal, which bounced ahead of goalkeeper Will Counsell and sailed into the net, to the delight of the travelling support in the shed.

Lossie celebrate the opener – click on the image for more

What was already a shot-shy event was hindered further as both sides made a rake of subs to try and open things up, with Ross Morrison coming on to replace Ross Archibald who had burst himself for the first hour of the game. Nairn threw on Adam Porritt and Seamus McConaghy in place of the ineffective Glenn Main and Conor Gethins, but it was Lossie who came closest to scoring again as Ryan Stuart drew a save from Counsell before the loose ball was cleared off the line.

The closing stages saw Nairn up their game and press hard for a leveller, but to the despair of those still in the ground with an interest in the hosts Lossie soaked up the pressure, with Logan Ross holding everything that came into the box before cleverly working the clock while in possession. The full time whistle came after five minutes of injury time and brought about jubilant scenes from a puggled Lossie side who savoured their moment in the sun.

The Coasters now head for home and a pair of games at Grant Park to see out the season, starting with Strathspey Thistle on April 9th before bringing the curtain down on the campaign against Brechin City on April 16th. 

FULL TIME – NAIRN COUNTY 0-1 LOSSIEMOUTH

TEAMS:

NAIRN COUNTY – Will Counsell; Cameron Lisle, Kenny McKenzie (John Treasurer (46)), Cohen Ramsay, Ryan Fyffe, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Maclennan, Glenn Main (Adam Porritt (68)), Conor Gethins (Seamus McConaghy (68)), Sam Gordon, Andrew Greig; UNUSED SUBS – Callum Ednie, Nathan Grant, Rory Williamson, Dylan Maclean

LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Fergus Edwards, Michael Weir, Jared Kennedy, Dean Stewart, Liam Archibald, Ryan Stuart, Ross Archibald (Ross Morrison (59)), Connor Macaulay (James Leslie (83)), Baylee Campbell (Max Taylor (90)), Lewis McAndrew; UNUSED SUBS – Niall Kennedy, Fraser Forbes, Oliver Kelly

GOALS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Connor Macaulay (54)

REFEREE:

Gordon Morrison

Clachnacuddin 1-1 Lossiemouth – Match Report

(26/03/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE, GRANT STREET PARK, INVERNESS)

LOSSIEMOUTH left Inverness with a point after a late penalty equaliser against CLACHNACUDDIN. The Coasters were trailing to a first-half goal from James Anderson but in the final minute Dean Stewart converted from the spot to rescue a point. 

Played in summery conditions, with the sun beating down from a cloudless sky onto a bobbly but green pitch, Lossie were out to win for the first time at Grant Street Park for the first time since 2004 but were left chasing the game almost immediately as James Anderson poked home a corner with a dozen minutes on the clock.

Baylee Campbell and friends – click on the image for more

Lossie’s irregular habit of landing away points combined with form at the venue suggested this could be a long afternoon, but the tourists had given themselves plenty of time to find an equaliser and Clach looked happy with a single goal lead and never forced the issue. Chances for both sides were at a premium and neither goalkeeper was called upon to put down their match programme very often, and the gentleman enjoying a flying lesson overhead missed little from several thousand feet up.

The half ended with Clach coming close to doubling their lead. Harry Nicolson near burst the ball from a free kick that got the better of Logan Ross but not the frame of the goal, with the ball making a reassuringly loud ping as it hit the crossbar.

HALF TIME – CLACHNACUDDIN 1-0 LOSSIEMOUTH

Lossie took more control of the game in the second half and seemed happily camped in Clach territory but only rarely made an approach towards goal as Clach held their shape. Home goalkeeper Martin Mackinnon watched on as a Dean Stewart free kick landed on the roof of the net, and the same player got on the end of a deflected cross from substitute Fraser Forbes but sent the ball over the bar

Appeals for a penalty were waved away after a foul on Baylee Campbell inside the area, in circumstances similar to those on Wednesday night when the same played was bundled over only for nothing to be given.

With time rapidly running out, Lossie were handed a lifeline. Dean Stewart went through on goal and lobbed Mackinnon, but tumbled into the goalkeeper as the ball drifted wide of goal. Referee Kevin Buchanan slowly considered the incident before pointing to the spot, and Stewart himself took the spot kick, sending Mackinnon the wrong way. 

Dean Stewart (5) wheels away after scoring from the spot – click click on the image for more

The equaliser didn’t come late enough in the game to allow Lossie to immediately celebrate a point and Clach sought to restore their lead in the remaining moments, but were denied again as Logan Ross tipped a shot over the bar, allowing Lossie to see out time to claim their first point at the ground since November 2010. 

The Coasters now head into the final weeks of the season starting a trip to Nairn County, followed by two home games against Strathspey Thistle and Brechin City as the campaign comes to a close. 

FULL TIME – CLACHNACUDDIN 1-1 LOSSIEMOUTH

TEAMS:

CLACHNACUDDIN – Martin Mackinnon; Ryan Mackintosh, Ben Cormack, Shaun Sutherland, James Anderson, Robbie Thompson (Blair Lawrie (80)), Calum Black, Alisdair Gillies, Kieran Chalmers (Connor Bunce (60)), Harry Nicolson, Lewis Mackenzie (Lewis Nicolson (60)); UNUSED SUBS – Lewis Nicolson, Blair Lawrie, Liam Taylor, Connor Bunce, Riley Mackenzie, James Calder, Daniel Rae

LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Fergus Edwards, Michael Weir, Jared Kennedy Dean Stewart, Liam Archibald, Ryan Stuart (Aleksander Matczak (90)), Ross Morrison (Fraser Forbes (60)), Niall Kennedy (Connor Macaulay (73)), Baylee Campbell, Lewis McAndrew; UNUSED SUBS – Ross Archibald, James Leslie, Max Taylor, Oliver Kelly

GOALS:

CLACHNACUDDIN – James Anderson (15)

LOSSIEMOUTH – Dean Stewart (89, pen)

REFEREE:

Kevin Buchanan