(05/03/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)

LOSSIEMOUTH returned to winning ways with victory over FORT WILLIAM at Grant Park, completing a hat-trick of wins against the bottom side in the league this season. Despite being much changed once again, Fort’s new side only rarely offered much in the way of a threat to a composed Lossie, and goals from Ross Archibald, Dean Stewart and Niall Kennedy landed Lossie with all three points, while Yves Zama equalised for the tourists.

Lossie looked similar to last week at Formartine, when a solid afternoon was marred by a three-minute spell at the end of the first half. Niall Kennedy started in place of Connor Macaulay, whom Kennedy had replaced as a substitute at North Lodge Park, but the ten other starters from last week all began this game. Fort were making their third visit to Grant Park this season, having lost in the North of Scotland Cup and on league duty before the clocks changed, and since then – despite a conveyor belt depositing an almost infinite number of managers and players at their door – the strugglers have gone on to collect just one point from ten games. However, that came at Huntly last month amid rumoured signs of improvement and narrower defeats, culminating in a disappointing loss at Clach last weekend.

The game commenced under blue skies and in bright spring sunshine, although those in the shade were somewhat colder than those in the sun. The new look Fort – previewed as more physical and speedier than their previous incarnations – were indeed a bit of both and enjoyed most of the ball in the opening stages, but achieved little as Lossie settled into the game.

With twelve minutes gone Lossie took the lead. A free kick from Ross Morrison was flicked on by Dean Stewart, and Ross Archibald reacted well to poke home from close for his first goal of the season.

Fort were on level terms midway through the first half. Yves Zama took up possession in the area and went on drill the ball below Logan Ross as the Lossie defence slowed up while looking for a free kick, which referee Filippo Mazzoni appeared to give. Players looked to the linesman, the linesman to the referee, and the referee – eventually – to the centre circle.

Parity lasted just three minutes. A free kick to Lossie out by the corner flag was swept in by Ryan Farquhar, and Dean Stewart rose high at the near post to send the ball home for his second goal in a week and fifth of the season.

Lossie looked more comfortable having retaken the lead and kept Fort quiet and the hosts had the last chance of the half. Another high ball into the area fell to Morrison, who thundered a shot at point blank range off the body of Kulbacki as the half wound down.

HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 2-1 FORT WILLIAM

The weather turned at half time and while the rain held off, proceedings were played out under a darker sky almost from the first whistle of the second half.

Lossie increased their lead with an hour gone. Farquhar sent Ross Archibald away down the wing and he looped a cross into the area for James Leslie, who misjudged the flight of the ball as he tried to volley home. His attempt to score distracted Fort and allowed Niall Kennedy to steal in behind him, and the youngster rifled the ball below Kulbacki for his first goal of the season. .

Going two goals behind looked to have ended Fort’s interest in the game, with the rumoured pace and physicality within the Fort camp still to be seen, but they perked up towards the end as Lossie began to flag and the game became a bit more crabbit. The final chance of the game went the way of Fort as Diste Sylla headed over in the first minute of injury time, but a second goal would have been harsh on a disciplined and organised Lossie, who got little wrong in either half of what could have been a more anxious affair.

Lossie now head to Kynoch Park to face a Keith side now below the Coasters in the table, while Fort travel to Turriff United for the game that may well break their season completely.

FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 3-1 FORT WILLIAM

TEAMS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Michael Weir, Fergus Edwards, Dean Stewart, Liam Archibald, Niall Kennedy (Fraser Forbes (68)), Ryan Farquhar, Ross Archibald, Ross Morrison, Lewis McAndrew, James Leslie; UNUSED SUBS – Connor Macaulay, Baylee Campbell, Jared Kennedy, Max Taylor, Alexsander Matczak, Oliver Kelly

FORT WILLIAM – Mateusz Kulbacki; Joshua Niblock, Jordon Thompson, Diste Cameara Sylla, Neils Lellouch, Taylor Kelly, Ayibongwe Mabhena, Darren Brew (Mohamed Makda (64)), Yves Zama, Adam Morris, Sean Munchenje (Igor Sani (64)) – UNUSED SUBS – Mohamed Aboifitah, Daikite Diallo, Abdullah Ahmed, Lewis Rogan

GOALS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Ross Archibald (11), Dean Stewart (28), Niall Kennedy (59)

FORT WILLIAM – Yves Zama (26)

REFEREE:

Filippo Mazzoni