Lossiemouth entertained near neighbours Buckie Thistle on the opening day of the Scot-Ads Highland League season, hoping to avoid the kind of heavy defeat associated with this fixture. Despite the absence of several regulars, Lossie put up more fight than expected by most but were undone by a looping header from Stephen Bruce which gave new Lossie keeper Darren McConnachie no chance.

A warm afternoon welcomed a large travelling support to Grant Park, most of whom would have been expecting a comfortable win. It was Lossie who had the first chance however, with a Middleton free kick just missing Doug Coull at the far post after only four minutes.

Buckie looked an imposing sight and put Lossie under several periods of sustained pressure, but the combination of Darren McConnachie in goal and former New Elgin teammate Kevin Stuart in front of him managed to keep Buckie in line.

Lossie showed they could stretch Buckie in places when Stuart played a ball out of defence over the middle for Muir to run onto, but the Buckie defence was not for conceding and the former Aberdeen player was stopped on the edge of the box by a fine challenge.

The visitors took the lead their early dominance deserved on 24 minutes. Donnie Munro swung a cross into the box and an unmarked Stephen BRUCE rose high to head past McConnachie into the top corner.

With the Lossie support worried the floodgates might open, Buckie upped their game and had McConnachie to thank for a low save at his near post after Munro sprung the offside trap to race through and shoot, only to find the goalkeeper equal to the strike.

Lossie were still holding Buckie and with the visitors failing to make the most of their possession, the half came to a close with the home side behind by the narrowest of margins.

Half time – Lossiemouth 0 Buckie Thistle 1

Lossie started the second half brightly, with Middleton playing a straight pass downfield to Moir who beat his man but was caught in the act of shooting, resulting in a Lossie corner.

Buckie were becoming frustrated with their large slice of possession combined with their inability to get close to goal, and were reduced to several shots from the edge of the box, none of which were likely to trouble McConnachie. The game began to resemble a session of shooting practice for the Jags, and they’ll need to sharpen up before they take to the field again.

Kevin Main, former Lossie number one, was forced into his first real save of the game midway through the half when Sean McIntosh tested the Buckie keeper with a low hard shot to his near post. Main was down well to block for a corner, and you got the feeling further goals were unlikely, particularly from Lossie.

The Jags had the best chance of the remainder of the tie when a square ball from the right wing found the feet of Bruce in the box, and he hammered a shot goalward. McConnachie denied the scorer of the opener a second of the day by producing a superb one handed save, pushing the ball onto the bar from point blank range.

Full time – Lossiemouth 0 Buckie Thistle 1

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