A return to the dark days of earlier in the season for Lossiemouth this weekend, as a trip to Mosset Park went from bad to worse, eventually ending up a complete nightmare. A late Craig Morrison goal was too little too late for a Lossie side who had conceded 8 up to that point.

A crisp afternoon at Mosset Park saw Lossie take to the park with only one change from the previous weekend. Michael Wintjes was in Holland for the weekend, so Steve Dixon returned from injury to take his place.

Craig Morrison had the first chance of the game, shooting into Raes hands from close range only a few minutes in. Forres were next to go close, with MacMillan shooting wide from 18 yards. As the game flowed from end to end, the middle of the park was becoming stretched. Ellis took advantage to slide a pass through to Morrison, who raced in on goal and lobbed Rae only to watch it bounce off the bar and behind.

Forres were moving quickly on a heavy pitch, and took the lead on ten minutes, with Ryan GREEN the beneficiary of some hard work by Lewis Mackinnon and some poor defending from Lossie. McKay then tested Dunn from 25 yards with a thunderous shot, but the Lossie keeper was equal to it, pushing it wide. Mackinnon then chipped Dunn from the edge of the box, but saw the ball land on the roof of the net.

Lossie were still involved, and Martin McMullan twice came close to leveling. A rasping shot warmed the palms of Rae, and soon after he had Rae watching helpless as a cross from the byline looped goalward, only to land on the bar and go out for a goal kick. Dougie Coull was also causing problems, heading just wide from an Ellis corner.

Just short of the half hour, Morrison had the best chance of the game so far. Another pass from Ellis saw the former New Elgin man clean through on goal again, and as he entered the box he rounded Rae and shaped to shoot, only for the goalkeeper to claw the ball off his foot to safety.

A very even game then, with both side having chances aplenty. Forres looked more organised but Lossie, through Morrison and McMullan, looked capable of scoring.

And then it all fell apart. Forres were awarded a contentious free kick just in front of the box, and a poorly positioned wall offered no defence to a Steve MCKAY free kick which flew past a despairing Dunn. Lewis MACKINNON made it three moments later, stabbing a square ball from MacMillan under Dunn, and within a couple of minutes it was four. McKay swung a curling free kick into the box and MACKINNON grabbed a second goal of the afternoon.

Half time - Forres Mechanics 4 Lossiemouth 0

Lossie started the second half sharply, looking to get a goal as soon as possible. Morrison slipped in front of Rae while in the act of shooting, and Ellis ruffled the side netting.

Forres were not finished yet however, and it was a former Coaster who made it five. Ryan Green headed a Charlie Brown cross into the path of Scott MATHESON, and he lifted the ball over a diving Dunn from a few yards.

It was six on the hour, and something of a gift from Lossie. Dixon was caught with the ball between his feet twenty yards out by MACKINNON, who collected the ball and sped past him to secure his hat trick.

Lossie were still looking for a goal of their own, and a quick free kick from McIntosh found an unmarked Morrison who could only shoot at the legs of Rae.

Forres grabbed a lucky seventh through MACKINNON minutes later, firing home a De Barros cross while the Lossie defence tackled each other. Quite why the linesman saw fit to point to the corner flag remains a mystery, but the goal stood and Lossie were in a world of trouble.

Dunn was doing his best to prevent any more damage, diving well to his left to tip two long range shots wide of the post.

The big keeper could do nothing about the eighth of the afternoon, which was arguably the goal of the game and surely one of the best Mosset Park has seen this season. Charlie Brown fired a cross into the box and without breaking stride Steve MCKAY volleyed home from 18 yards to give even the away support something to applaud.

Lossie rang the changes and sent on Lee Moir, Jordan Main and Joe Lasley to at least keep the game going. Moir was the first to pose a problem to Forres, beating two men in the middle of the park and passing out wide to Coull. The big forward drilled the ball under the keeper, but watched in dismay as the ball was cleared off the line. Moir and Coull then went through the same routine moments later with similar results, only for Rae to block Coulls shot. McMullan then watched as a thunderbolt of a shot flew into the goal, only for it to be disallowed. 

A somewhat deceptive scoreline, you might say. Lossie had the chances to keep the game competitive but failed to take them, whereas Forres took full advantage of some careless defending to keep their title hopes alive. A one-off surely, but Lossie will need to sharpen up at the back to avoid another hiding against a young Clach team this coming weekend.

Full time - Forres Mechanics 8 Lossiemouth 1

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