Lossie continued their recent run of poor results against Inverurie Locos in front of the small gathering of fans that chose club over country. While most people in the country were at Hampden or near a TV or radio paying attention to the national team, the Lossie support saw their charges go down 3-0 at Grant Park, in an occasionally physical encounter that somehow never seemed to get started.

In fact, nothing really happened for the first 25 minutes. Lossie were eager to return to some kind of formation after the events at Forres, and settled into a defensive pattern and comfortably halted the majority of Locos attacks. The home side had breathing space as Locos tried but failed to find a way through to create any clear-cut chances. Kenny Coull came closest and had one Locos supporter celebrating the opener, but he was quickly silenced as Masterton leapt to tip his shot over the bar.

The famous Grant Park stretcher made a disappointing appearance ten minutes before the half, and made an even more disappointing exit as it carried Gary Youngson from the field, though his injury is not expected to keep him out of action for long.

The visitors went ahead shortly before the half. Former Skiter Neil McLean swung in a corner, and Craig ROSS was at the near post to bundle the ball home, despite the protestations from the Lossie bench of a foul on Marc Whyte in the build up.

Locos attempted to add injury to insult as the half drew to a close, with Jamie Watt first catching Marc Whyte with what looked like an elbow in an off the ball collision, which resulted in the referee speaking to four players. Watt then decided that Mastertons kit was not to his tastes and attempted to do likewise to the keeper as he collected a high ball, only to miss. Thoroughly unnecessary, but to be expected from a Locos side who were beginning to look a little frustrated at their narrow lead.

Half time – Lossiemouth 0 Inverurie Locos 1

The second half started with news filtering through that Scotland were blowing it at Hampden. With everyone in the ground looking like they would rather be somewhere else, the Lossie team rolled their sleeves up and got fired in, and Locos almost buckled. The visitors did not respond well to being pressured on the ball, and mistakes started to creep in. Lossie had the ball in the net ten minutes in through Rattray but, once again, it was disallowed for a mysterious foul on the goalkeeper that only the referee spotted.

Moments later, Morrison chased onto a loose pass back to put Jarvie under pressure and the keeper made a total hash of the clearance, hitting Mo and allowing him a shot at goal. The forward, chasing his tenth league goal of the season, tried to lob it over the keepers head but could not get enough height on the ball.

Locos were getting increasingly nervous about protecting their one goal lead, and were appealing wildly for every contentious decision. Neil McLean summed up the teams desperation with a series of laughable dives.

With 15 minutes remaining, Locos poached a second, with Kenny COULL nodding home a Gairns free kick to finish the game. The visitors sealed things in injury time with a third, again from a Gairns free kick, and COULL grabbed his second.

Full time – Lossiemouth 0 Inverurie Locos 3

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