The transformation of Lossiemouth from underdogs to contenders hit a bump in the road at the weekend, with Cove Rangers turning up, scoring twice in a minute, and running off with the points. An even game saw chances for both sides, but a careless 90 seconds at the start of the second half allowed the visitors the goals they needed to come out on top.

Lossie started with the same side who drew at Wick the previous week, and the home side was the first to threaten. Top scorer Craig Morrison chipped a cross into the box for McMullan to knock down to Ellis, but the former Elgin City man saw his 20 yard strike deflected wide for a corner.

Chances were coming for both sides as the game swung from end to end. Cove needed a goalline clearance to prevent them going behind on the quarter hour mark, before Doug Coull headed wide after a fine cross from Ellis.

Half an hour in and Dunn was booked for a challenge on Steele just outside the box, although it was clear there was very little contact between the players before he hit the deck. Justice was done when the resultant free kick flew over the bar to safety.

Dunn was called into action in the dying seconds of the first half, producing a spectacular one handed tip over the bar from a Milne volley to keep the score level at the break. 

Half time - Lossiemouth 0 Cove Rangers 0

The second half was barely a few minutes old when Cove stole the lead. Bain swung a cross into the box where it was met by Graeme CADGER, whose header sailed past a diving Dunn and landed in the bottom corner of the net.

A slow start to the second half used to be a feature of Lossie and it appeared once again this weekend, as within two minutes of opening the scoring, the visitors had doubled their lead. With the Lossie side distracted by a previous foul on Wintjes, Cove pushed forward and Nicky Gordon provided a cross which Scott FRASER headed past Dunn.

On the hour Morrison, who had not looked his usual lively self so far, found space for a sprint down the wing, beating two men before sliding a pass towards Ellis in the box, only for the ball to be taken off his toe as he shot. Minutes later, Morrison was causing trouble again and was unlucky not to pull one back, firing a shot inches wide from twelve yards.

With Morrison struggling on the heavy pitch, Lossie rung the changes, sending Jordan Main and Joe Lasley on to add a bit of pace to the game, a tactic which would cause Cove problems for the rest of the game.

Lossie were not beaten yet, and continued to look for an opening, and did have the ball in the net at one point, only for their efforts to be disallowed. Jordan Main showed great technique to volley home an Ellis free kick, but the youngster was just offside. 

Full time - Lossiemouth 0 Cove Rangers 2

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