Lossiemouth and Clachnacudden surprised everyone by turning in the game of the day at Grant Park on Saturday. Amid runs of form that had seen the clubs win not a single game between them this year, the sides shared six goals, a sending off and ninety minutes of physical battling, at the end of which neither side deserved to lose.

The home side started the game with the same determination as the started the second half at Keith last weekend, instantly getting inabouts a Clach side who looked wobbly at best in the opening stages. Craig Morrison had the first chance of the game, skinning Jonathon Smith in goals as the keeper rushed out of his box, only for the Lossie man to be tackled as he prepared to shoot.

Morag Pirie was refereeing and bookings commenced as early as the seventh minute, when Blair Lawrie showed the lighter side to his game and flung himself to the deck over a soft challenge from Graeme Wilson, earning the Lossie man a yellow card.

Twenty minutes in and Lossie capitalized on their domination of the game to that point. A deflected pass from Youngson through the middle found Craig MORRISON wide open with only Smith to beat, and the Lossie striker accomplished what he had tried last weekend at Keith, succeeding in lobbing the keeper and opening the scoring.

Clachs Garry Ross was booked for a wild kick from behind at Wilson as he attempted to clear his lines, and it became clear to all why Clach can’t win, as they moaned and sulked their way through the half, kicking and elbowing anything that moved.

Lossie could have doubled their lead on the half hour when Watson surged down the wing and crossed from the right, with Morrison the intended receiver. The goalscorer missed the ball with his head by inches and it drifted wide.

Naturally, Clach immediately equalised. A foul throw from Robbie Duncanson was flicked on to Alex BONE in the box who turned his man and levelled from eight yards. His celebration to the Lossie fans did him no favours for the rest of the afternoon, and a man of his age and size should know better. 

Half time – Lossiemouth 1 Clachnacudden 1

Lossie started the second half with the same gusto seen earlier, and Morrison had the ball in the net in the opening minute. The linesman did himself no favours, allowing Mo to run on and take the ball around the keeper before raising his flag. Moments later Lossie were denied a penalty as Muir strolled through a Clach defence that was looking worse by the minute, only for Gary Ross to try to climb inside his shirt in an attempt to win the ball. The home side continued pressing as Clach struggled long and hard to escape their own half. Rattray was next to test Smith in goals, unleashing a volley from 30 yards that the keeper did well to hold.

Lossie went ahead for the second time on the hour. A Middleton throw was flicked on by Morrison into the box where it was met by WILSON who right-footed the ball home as he ran into the area. 

Clach responded with all the class you would expect, with Bone berating his own players from the halfway line as the visitors threatened to collapse completely. Bone was eventually booked for his comments.

The visitors equalised five minutes later through Scott BEGG who was allowed enough time and space to unleash a curling strike from 25 yards over Masterton and into the top corner. Neil McCuish of Clach then endeared himself further to the home support with his celebration, one more suited to winning a cup final than equalizing for the second time against a team with only eight points so far this season.

The look of delight was wiped smartly off his face moments later as Lossie went ahead again. Rattray spotted a long ball coming and showed the Clach back line a clean pair of heels to run clean through on Smith, who blocked his shot but could do nothing to stop David MUIR from finishing off the good work. McCuish was oddly quiet as the third went in, unlike Bone, who was letting the Lossie midfield wind him up completely and was ranting like a madman at anyone who would listen.

Then, just when you thought it might be all over, Lossie decided to make things interesting. Graeme Wilson received his second yellow card for a late challenge, and things looked a lot different. 

Lossie could have made it four with fifteen minutes remaining when Sean McIntosh used his fresh legs to race through on goals only to be hauled down from behind by Lawrie. The youngster received a booking for his trouble, and Middletons free kick found the head of Dixon who nodded just wide.

Alex BONE made it three all with his knee shortly after. As goals come, this was as scrappy as you could have imagined, a style somewhat suited to Clachs overall attitude and performance.

Lossie were inches from snatching it at the depth as Kevin Stuart volleyed a Middleton corner just over the bar, but the sides appeared content with a point and Morag blew for time shortly after.

Full time – Lossiemouth 3 Clachnacudden 3

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