For the second time this season, a game between Lossie and Forres saw the sides share four goals and the points, as the Coasters twice came from behind to force a draw. Shawn Scott and Jamie Bagley were on target for Lossie, while the Brown and Yellows finished with ten men once again following the dismissal of Kevin Collins in the second half.

That the sides have drawn three of the last four meetings is no real surprise, thanks to the air of familiarity Former Lossie men Gary Youngson and Simon Allan started the game for Forres, with Charlie Rowley still in the dugout, while Lossies starting line up featured no less than four ex-Can Cans in the shape of Scott Matheson, John Mutch, Tony Ross and Shawn Scott.

To the horror of the home support, Forres took the lead with their first attack. Kyle Stewart was out muscled by lank haired salsa king Ryan Green, who squared to Ricky WARDROP for a simple finish from just outside the six-yard box.

Less than a minute later Lossie were level through Shawn SCOTT, whose pace saw him first to a defence splitting pass from Scott Matheson, which the youngster fired past Stuart Knight into the corner of the net.

The visitors had the ball in the net again for a second time after quarter of an hour, Kyle Scott finding the target from a dozen yards, only for a very late flag to appear to rule it out for offside. 

Lossie slowly found their feet, with Matheson and Shawn Scott speeding past Collins and Sharp. Biscuits forced a high save from Knight, before Matheson played a deep cross to Sean McIntosh, but the youngsters’ header went down and wide of the post.

Half time - Lossiemouth 1 Forres Mechanics 1

Even the half time interval failed to pass without drama, as it emerged one of the match officials had picked up an injury and a replacement was needed. Despite the presence of 150 referees in the ground, only one came forward to pick up the flag, and the second half kicked off ten minutes late.

The Lossie goal led a charmed life in the opening minutes of a cold second half. Graeme Grant forced Darren McConnachie into a save, and the former New Elgin keeper managed to palm the follow up from Nathan Sharp onto the crossbar.

Forres continued to press and went ahead for the second time 8 minutes into the second period. After taking possession out wide, Simon ALLAN went on a diagonal run, unchallenged across the pitch into the penalty area, before striking the ball across goal into the bottom corner of the net.

Almost immediately after, Forres found themselves reduced to ten men. Kevin Collins, previously booked for some needless dissent in the first half, received a second yellow following a challenge on Michael Smith, who could not be accused of underplaying the foul.

The dismissal offered Lossie a brief advantage, but the visitors are used to playing against Lossie with only ten men, Collins being the third Forres dismissal in the last four of these fixtures. 

Lossie made their first substitution with less than half an hour to go, when Jamie Bagley trotted on for Sean McIntosh. It didn’t take the youngster long to make an impression, firing a shot from the side of the penalty area inches over the bar.

With fifteen minutes left, the hosts were level. Supersub BAGLEY saw a shot blocked from the edge of the area, but was first to get to the rebound and netted a deserved equaliser from eighteen yards.

Lossie continued to use the pace of Shawn Scott and Bagley to try and crack the Forres defence for a third time, but the visitors had got used to their lack of personnel quicker than their hosts and no more clear chances came for Lossie.  

Full time – Lossiemouth 2 Forres Mechanics 2

Team