Lossiemouth lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a goal from each of their front two helping them to a two nil win over Rothes at Grant Park. The Coasters handed young keeper Craig Masterton and midfielder Graeme Wilson debuts in the match against a Rothes side that was missing no fewer than seven players.

After an even opening spell Craig Morrison played a ball over the top for Kyle Stewart in what was the first clear cut chance of the afternoon but former Lossie keeper Stevie Dunn made the save.

However Dunn was beaten in the 18th minute as the home team took the lead. Graeme Wilson struck a 30 yard volley towards the bottom corner of the net and when Stevie Dunn parried it to his left Kyle Stewart raced in to collect. With Dunn anticipating the cut back STEWART fired the ball just inside the back post from the narrowest of angles, eight yards out.

That clearly gave Lossie a boost and a moment of magic from Marc Whyte very nearly saw them grab a second. His 25 yard free kick was touched onto the crossbar by the fingertips of Stevie Dunn.

Gary Youngson then came within inches of netting with a right footed effort from the edge of the box and Martin McMullen turned, nutmegging the defender, before attempting a left footed cross which very nearly flew into the top corner. Once again Stevie Dunn made the save.

Rothes began to come back into the game in the final fifteen minutes of the half and they forced a series of corners one of which very nearly paid off. After the first ball had been returned to the taker some neat passing set up the chance for Ross Duncan but his drilled effort was well saved by Craig Masterton, parrying it around the post for another corner.

Half time – Lossiemouth 1 Rothes 0

More of the same early in the second period saw Lossie defend well, putting their bodies in the firing line as Rothes were lining up to shoot at the edge of the box on a couple of occasions. Yet another corner was headed just over the bar by Mark Taylor then the best chance of the half fell to Mark Wood.

Marc Whyte inexplicably played the striker in on goals but as he tried to lift it over the advancing keeper a bobble, he claims, lead to the lob turning into a ballooned effort which never troubled the goal.

The imperious Lossie defence held firm throughout the half and at the other end the pace of Muir, Morrison and Stewart was causing the Rothes defence problems on the counter attack.

A Rattray throughball saw Morrison race into the box and cut inside before firing wide then the midfielder had a low right foot effort from sixteen yards out that drifted inches past the far post.

Youngson and Stewart both did their best to give Craig Morrison the chance to race in on goals but he was eventually crowded out on both occasions but there was to be no denying the striker in the 86th minute when given a similar opening. Having cut in from the right, MORRISON went past two defenders, moved the ball onto his left foot before rolling it between the defenders legs and wide of Stevie Dunn from 8 yards out before heading to carry out a pre arranged celebration.

The Coasters will welcome top of the table Huntly in seven days time as they look to close the gap on Forres Mechanics who now sit three points above them. Rothes will hope to get back to winning ways when they host a Fort William team who has won twice in Moray this season.

Full time – Lossiemouth 2 Rothes 0

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