With steady drizzle falling, referee Billy Baxter wasted no time in getting the match underway, with some punters still making their way towards the ground when Lossie kicked off. For a side with a reputation for playing good football on their bowling green surface, Nairn were quick to show their physical side, conceding a free kick for a foul on Shawn Scott before the ball had left the centre circle.

The home side created the first chance only a couple of minutes in to the game. Willie Barron played in Shaun Kerr for a strike at goal, only to see the ball cleared off the line by John Urquhart. The visitors replied through Shawn Scott and Calum Reid, the former going one-on-one with Callum Donaldson in the Nairn goal, with the keeper coming out to block a shot with his legs. Reid, who scored in this fixture last season, almost repeated the trick, blazing a shot wide of the post. 

With quarter of an hour gone, Lossie came within a coat of paint of the opener. Jamie Bagley curled in a corner, Craig Donaldson flicked it on to Calum Reid, but the youngsters volley clipped the top of the bar on its way into the darkness behind the goal.

There was little between the sides, with both struggling to create many chances. John Urquhart was in the right place at the right time again on the half hour, heading wide a goal bound effort from Martin Macdonald.

The home side took the lead ten minutes from half time. Brian MacLeod played a square ball into the middle of the pitch for Lewis MACKINNON, and the well travelled striker found himself with all the time he needed to get a look at goal and send a low left foot shot past a diving McConnachie into the very corner of the net.
 
Half time – Nairn County 1 Lossiemouth 0

Lossie were first to threaten in the second half, with Jamie Bagley firing wide. The visitors were almost handed an equaliser from Callum Donaldson in the Nairn goal, when his scuffed clearance cannoned back off Michael Smith. The keeper was down quick to catch the ball just inside in the box before Smith could pounce.

Soon after, Shawn Scott went close with a header, and Craig Donaldson sliced a shot wide of goal, but the efforts of the men in red went unrewarded.

The heavy rain and greasy surface were causing Lossie problems, and a look of frustration was evident in the body language of the visitors. Nairns robust approach to the second half saw them receive three bookings in the last ten minutes of the game, while their managements refusal to punt a new ball into play when one found itself stuck on the roof of the old stand smacked of desperation as they tried to hold on to their thin lead.

Lossie could not find an equaliser, but there was one last incident worthy of a mention, coming at the death when Andrea Colletto managed to get himself booked twice in as many minutes for a pair of clumsy challenges before being ordered from the pitch. 

Full time – Nairn County 1 Lossiemouth 0

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