Lossiemouth FC
Match Reports - 29-Jan-2005 -
Cove Rangers v Lossiemouth
Scot-Ads Highland League
Report by Jimmy Shaker
Cove Rangers v Lossiemouth
Lossie travelled to Aberdeen for their second match of the season against Cove. The Coasters won the first round 3-2 at Grant Park, but the second time out proved to be less fruitful.
The opening period saw the ball spend most of its time in the middle of the park, as Cove were continually offside. The first real incident came when the Cove goalkeeper Ian Thain was injured in a challenge for the ball. Early reports suggested he had suffered a broken leg. He was replaced in goal by Ray Charles.
Cove took the lead just shy of half an hour. Keith ROBERTSON was waved on from an offside-looking position and composed himself well before finishing under Dunn to give Cove a lead they deserved.
The incidents surrounding the second goal tipped the game entirely in Coves favour. Keith Robertson took the ball around Dunn just inside the six yard box and was about to fire the ball home, only to have the Lossie keeper full his legs from under him. The referee had no real alternative to the red card shown, and Shaun Scott gamely took on goalkeeping duties for the remainder of the game. Unfortunately, his first act was to pick the ball out of the net after GORDON had sent him the wrong way.
The third goal
was similar to the first, with Cove coming close to being offside before
Leighton Flaws, surely a contender for the tallest man in football, sent Martin JOHNSTON
clear and he finished well under Biscuits. The goal essentially finished the
game as a competitive tie, and even though Lossie have staged successful
comebacks in recent seasons, they were unlikely to do so today.
Half time - Cove Rangers 3 Lossiemouth 0
Lossie emerged for the second half looking like a completely different side.
Suggestions that Cove had taken the foot off the gas were justified given their
handsome lead, but ten-man Lossie still managed to play the better football over
the course of the half.
The replacement goalkeepers were to have a busy second half. Three minutes in and Thain had to be quick to save a shot from Noble, before Biscuits was also called into action. Lossie were having the better of it, and a shot from McMullan was palmed away to safety.
A goal in the
middle of the second half offered Lossie a glimmer of hope. An excellent cross
in from the left by Hendry was met a few yards out by an unmarked MCMULLAN who
nodded home his third goal in four games. The midfielder could have had another
late on, but saw a shot well saved by Charles on the goalline.
In the end, Lossies second half performance was in vain, as the visitors failed
to find further goals. Excellent performances from David Hendry and Steven Ellis
gave the travelling support moments of cheer, but the damage had been done in
the first forty-five minutes. The absence of Steve Dunn for the game v Nairn
County will give the management a headache, as will the missing Darren
Shalliker, serving the second of his two-game suspension, but Lossie are sure to
cause the Wee County problems.
Full time – Cove Rangers 3 Lossiemouth 1
Team – Dunn, Rollings, Sim, Youngson, McIntosh, Noble, McMullan, Ellis, Scott, Forde, Hendry
Scorers – McMullan (62)
Booked – Hendry Sent Off - Dunn
Subs Used – Moir (McIntosh 80), Riddoch (Forde 90), Thompson (Ellis 90)