Lossie travelled to a cold, dark, miserable Banff to take on league leaders Deveronvale and put up stubborn resistance before losing by a solitary goal, the second 1-0 defeat to Vale of the season. Gary McGowan squeaked the ball home at the near post at the start of the second half and, despite the hilarious sending off of Mark Chisholm with a quarter of the game to go, the home side held on for all three points.

The weather ensured the afternoons proceedings were not held up due to an excessive crowd at the gate, with one of the travelling support asking if he was at the right ground, and another comparing the ghostly atmosphere to a game at Kynoch Park. Both would have been a hell of a lot dryer at Keith, courtesy of an enclosure and terracing combo the Banff side have yet to build.

With Inverurie Locos on Scottish Cup duty, Deveronvale had the chance to extend their lead over the title favourites with a win, and wasted no time getting stuck in. Perennial thorn in the side of the Lossie Mark Chisholm was first to have a go, striking a weak shot from the edge of the area that McConnachie held. The home side was lacking some of their usual spark and Lossie, through Joe Lasley and Jamie Bagley, looked to take advantage on the counter attack.

Lossie looked solid at the back, with Craig Donaldson and Kevin Stuart competently keeping the Banffers at bay. Gary McGowan and Robbie Duncanson both had chances from scoring range but fired wide.

At the other end, Stuart Lamberton found the officials more of a problem than the Vale players. The forward was presented with the chance to run at goal following a clearance, only for the stand side linesman to flag for offside just as he crossed the half way line.

Half time – Deveronvale 0 Lossiemouth 0

The second half commenced with no change in the weather, and Vale took the lead before Lossie were back into gear. Steve Dolan paddled down the left before sending a looping cross to the far side of the box. The Lossie defence stood watching as if a pretty firework was flying overhead, unaware Gary MCGOWAN was appearing at the back post to deflect the ball down off the ground past McConnachie into the net.

Lossie threw on Sean McIntosh in a bid to create more chances, and should have scored through Bagley soon after. The youngster sprinted in on goal from the left before cutting inside and choosing to try a high finish past Blanchard which the keeper got a hand to. Bagley went close again moments later, banging a shot against the post.

Despite the continuing rain, the game threatened to spark into life as the game slid into the final stages. The experienced Vale captain Mark Chisholm got himself into a fight he couldn’t win with the referee and picked up two bookings for dissent in as many minutes. The appearance of the red card merely saw Chisholm throw what few toys were left in his pram as far over the side as possible, with his teammates trying to remove him from the pitch, the captains armband already ripped from the arm and thrown to the pitch. Class, grace, style – this lads got none of ‘em.

Although a man down, Vale had the ball in the net with quarter of an hour remaining. McConnachie saved well from Gary Clark and Mark Cowie was in position to put the rebound away, but was given offside, a very close decision going by the expressions on the faces of both teams.

The last chance of the game fell to Bagley and he was denied for the third and final time of the afternoon by the home defence, and the game drew to a soggy close.

Full time – Deveronvale 1 Lossiemouth 0

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