Wick Academy made the long trek south to Lossie and returned north having had a fruitful journey, picking up all three points against a Lossie side who failed to follow up Wednesday nights win against Fort William with another victory. The teams took to the park on a beautiful day for football but the action came a close second to the weather as Shane Sutherland scored the only goal to hand the visitors the points in a dull encounter.

Lossie were dealt a blow prior to kick-off as Marc Whyte, two goal hero from the trip to Fort William, injured himself in the warm up, but the Coasters still had their tails up from midweek, and Morrison was first to try his luck, shooting high and wide ten minutes in.

Shortly after, the game welcomed a special guest to the field, as a local cat wandered into the ground and, evidently scared of being forced to stick around for any more of a game still in first gear, decided to dash across the pitch to safety. Being black and white, one assumes it was happy with the final result, and it was certainly brought no luck to Lossie.

Wick were next to try and open the scoring, with Richard Macadie shooting high over the bar from only a dozen yards out. The visitors were enjoying plenty of possession but lacked a spark in midfield to break down Dixon and Stuart at the back.

Lossie continued to press and Morrison was eager to impress after missing the trip to Fort William, trying an audacious overhead flick from long range that dropped just wide of the far post, before lashing a volley at goal, only to be denied by More in goals.

Half time – Lossiemouth 0 Wick Academy 0

The teams emerged for the second half with everything still to play for, but the game continued to trundle along at a lazy pace, befitting the conditions and the end of season nature. Lossie were forced into an early sub, with Gordon Riddoch appearing to replace Sean McIntosh minutes into the half. Gary Youngson drove a low shot into the box and it beat everyone before bobbling past the far post with the keeper watching on.

The Coasters should have gone ahead short of the hour when Sanderson lashed a volley goalbound from 25 yards. More made a fine save but parried to the feet of Riddoch who missed from a good six inches out. Think Billy Bremner against Brazil in 1974, and you are close to the range this sitter went past from.

The home side were made to pay moments later when the visitors cruised into the lead. Gary Farquhar was at the center of the move in the middle of the park and set up Shane SUTHERLAND to fire home the opener with some aplomb.

After that, the game ran out of what little steam it had gained and slowly ground to a complete stop. Morrison curled a free kick just over for Lossie but in terms of real chances, that was your lot for the afternoon.

Lossie now face Brora Rangers in the end of season finale. With Fort unlikely to win enough of their remaining games to pass Lossie in the chase to avoid finishing bottom, Lossie have little to play for, but a win would go some way to closing the year off in style. 

Full time – Lossiemouth 0 Wick Academy 1

Team