Lossiemouth FC Match Reports - 28-Aug-2004 - Wick Academy v Lossiemouth

Report by Jimmy Shaker - click here for the match photos

Wick Academy 2 Lossie 2

Lossiemouth took their first steps on the road to Hampden on Saturday against a Wick Academy side who were fast becoming familiar faces to the Grant Park side, with the sides having met the previous week.

Wick started the brighter of the two teams, eager to avenge the previous weeks defeat, and tore out of the blocks, forcing Lossie onto the defensive. As early as the second minute, Lossie had to deal with a cross which was headed against the underside of the bar and into the grateful arms of Dunn.

Lossies back line was struggling to keep up with Wick and the northerners went 1-0 up in the 15th minute. An excellent shot from distance was saved by Dunn and pushed back into play, only for David COWIE to tap home the rebound.

Before Lossie had a chance to assert themselves, they were two down, as Nigel MCKENZIE took advantage of a wide open back line and an excellent ball from midfield to score.

Despite more Wick pressure, including a cross headed over from a yard out and a shot from the edge of the box also sent skyward, the score stayed at 2-0 to the homesters heading into half-time. On the basis of the first half performances, it was a fair scoreline, and Lossie could consider themselves lucky to still be in the game.

HALF TIME – Wick Academy 2 Lossiemouth 0

Lossie started the second half with more presence and effort, reducing Wick to their own half of the park, but found themselves unable to create many goalscoring chances, the highlights of the opening ten minutes of the half being a drive through midfield capped with a shot from McMullan which stung the palms of the Wick no. 1.

Slowly, however, Lossie came back into the game, with Hendry and McMullan pushing on, taking the team with them. An excellent Hendry run down the left flank resulted in a teasing cross which was put wide by the waiting Moir at the far post.

21 minutes into the half and Lossies pressure saw them rewarded with a goal from Shaun SCOTT, who collected the ball in midfield and went on a mazy run to the edge of the box before firing the ball past the keeper, whos defence had departed to mark Shallikers after he had run into space.

The goal stung Wick back into action, and they resumed playing with the effort they had shown in the first half, but Lossie were on the up. With 12 minutes to go, a free kick was awarded to Lossie on the edge of the Wick box. Darren SHALLIKER stepped up to curl home a goal worthy of a higher level of football, and the scores were level.

Both teams pushed forward looking for the winner and a chance to avoid the third game between the sides in three weeks, but it was to no avail, and the sides meet again this weekend in the replay. 

FULL TIME – Wick Academy 2 Lossiemouth 2

Team – Dunn; Noble, Youngson, Grigor, Sim, McIntosh, Moir, McMullan, Scott, Shalliker, Hendry.

Subs used – Forde, Rollings, Allen.

Subs not used – Ellis, Thomson