The clubs were familiar with each other following their epic Challenge Cup Preliminary Round tie, which Lossie finally won on penalties, the shoot-out coming after the sides had shared six goals at Grant Park in July. Former Coaster Jamie McKay featured on the bench for Brora, while Lossie were short of bodies, playing Jay-Jay Urquhart at centre half and naming Chris Stuart as an outfield sub.

The teams left the dressing rooms and entered the driech arena. Brora were first to try and brighten up the afternoon, with the troublesome Michael McKenzie chasing a loose ball down the wing before playing a perfect cross into the box, only to find his team mates uninterested, and the chance came to nothing.

Lossie were trying their luck from set pieces, and almost opened the scoring with a free kick. A Stuart MacGregor ball drifted into the box and over the Brora back four, and Kevin Stuart, in unfamiliar territory up front, headed just wide.

Lossie opened the scoring before the half hour. Kyle Stewart, playing in the middle of the park rather than up front, provided the pass for Martin MCMULLEN to convert through a forest of defenders from 18 yards, the ball shaking the damp off the sodden goalnet as it nestled in the corner of the goal.

The visitors were enjoying their afternoon, and were finding set pieces a productive means of attack. A Stuart MacGregor corner offered Calum Reid the chance to score with a header, but Gary McLeod was on the line to clear.

Lossie doubled their lead ten minutes before the interval, and it came from another corner. Stuart MacGregor whipped the ball through the box at a dangerous height and past three Lossie players before Gary MCLEOD put through his own goal while attempting to clear.

Half time – Brora Rangers 0 Lossiemouth 2

The grim surroundings remained for part two, and Brora continued their hunt for a way out of the gloom and back into the game. Sam Mackay threatened to make the afternoons affair some kind of contest, bashing a shot against the post before sending wide his own rebound.

Lossie were defending stoutly, with Kevin Stuart and Jay-Jay Urquhart taking it in turns to head away the long goal kicks thumped downfield by Broras goalkeeper. It wasn't the prettiest of games to watch, but Lossie were getting by in a tidy, organised manner, one completely at odds with the game at Clach a fortnight before.

In addition to the solid display of defending from Lossie, the visitors occasionally threatened a third goal. Second half sub Matthew Huckins brought both pace and physique, and came close on two occasions to adding a third, first sending a pass from Kyle Stewart wide of the post, before lashing a shot from  outside the box against the rear end of a Brora player who made the block just in time.

Lossie finally put the game to bed with ten minutes remaining. Huckins and Bagley combined well to present the former with a scoring opportunity, and HUCKINS slid the ball home.

Brora continued to press, eager for something, anything, to reward their afternoons efforts, and almost snatched a late, late consolation as injury time commenced, but Duncan Morris could only watch on as his shot limped wide of goal.

Lossie move to within three points of league leaders Deveronvale, but will have to wait for an opportunity to catch the Banff side, as the Coasters have a free weekend this Saturday, and follow it with the long trip to Dalbeattie in the Scottish Cup first round the following weekend.

Full time – Brora Rangers 0 Lossiemouth 3

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