A bad afternoon for Lossie, who threw away a winning position to lose 4-1 to a wind-assisted Forres Mechanics at Mosset Park. A Craig Morrison penalty was cancelled out by two first half goals, and the Brown and Yellows added another two in the second period. Despite a good start from Lossie, Forres finally showed a modicum of class to ease past Lossie without too much trouble.

Extreme weather conditions saw the first half rendered something of a farce to begin with, as Lossie struggled to make the most of their windy advantage. Again, the referee chose to make life even more difficult, disallowing a legitimate early effort from Rattray after Robbie Taylor in the Forres goal dropped a cross under pressure from Morrison.

The visitors went ahead shortly after and it was Taylor again causing his side problems. Morrison was sent clean through on goal and rounded the Forres keeper, only to be hauled down for a penalty. Despite some laughable protests from the home side, the referee awarded the spot-kick and MORRISON stepped up to convert his ninth goal of the season, much to the disapproval of the venue announcer who refused to read out his name.

Forres were labouring into the wind and struggling to put anything together, but with Brown and Matheson on the pitch, danger was never far away.

In a half with little worth remembering, and the next item of interest was the equaliser. Forres were beginning to get a grip on the conditions, and Jordan Main swung a low cross into the box which Conner CAMPBELL met with a fine diving header to level the scores.

Neil Whyte was his usual physical self and could not escape the first half without a booking.

Half time – Forres Mechanics 2 Lossiemouth 1

The second half began with a bizarre own goal from MASTERTON. A long clearance from the Forres goalkeeper bounced in front of the Lossie netminder inside the box and despite getting a firm hand to it, he could not keep the ball out and Forres went further ahead.

The young keeper redeemed himself with two fine saves shortly after from Connor Campbell and Neil Whyte. Whyte then saw a second yellow for a wild challenge on McMullan and the club captain was ordered from the pitch to the relief of everyone with a healthy set of ankles. Unfortunately, the tunnel door took something of a battering as Whyte left the pitch, following a tantrum the likes of which haven’t been seen at a Lossie game since Gary Clark was dismissed for Cove at Allan Park.

Lossie made some changes, throwing Sean McIntosh on for Grant Shewan, but with Forres now in control and playing with the wind, Lossie struggled to escape their own half. Morrison had the visitors best chance but took one touch too many in beating his man.

Forres finished the game on a high, scoring with only moments left on the clock. Garry Macdonald rifled a shot at Masterton which the keeper did well to block, only for his stationary defence to watch on as MACDONALD collected the rebound to score the fourth.

Following on from this entirely unmemorable afternoon, Inverurie Locos are next up and visit Grant Park this Saturday, having lost to Nairn County in the Highland League Cup in their previous outing. Putting a dent in Locos title charge would more than make up for the defeat against the Brown and Yellows. Well, almost.  

Full time – Forres Mechanics 4 Lossiemouth 1

Team