Lossiemouth made their debut trip to North Lodge Park at the weekend and were on the receiving end of an old school hiding from Formartine United. Three first half goals for the home side were followed by another two in the second half as the league new boys steamrolled a Lossie side missing several key players.

The visitors were missing the still suspended Shawn Scott, and Kevin Stuart also missed out. Nikki Smith and Sam Milton could only start on the bench, while injury kept Gary Macdonald and Jamie Bagley out of the squad. Despite this being their first season in the league, Formartine had a familiar look about them. Manager John Gardiner appears determined to recreate the Locos team he famously failed to win the league with, and at some expense if the rumours are to be believed. 

Following months of snow, this was Formartines first home game of the year, only going ahead after two pitch inspections. The pitch has not coped well with the winter months and by half time looked almost as unplayable as Mosset Park did midweek.

From kick-off, Formartine looked menacing. Richie Singer, the most recent refugee to seek asylum in Pitmedden rather than remain amongst the chaos at Harlaw, was involved in the first chance, passing a corner short to Bagshaw who set up Vigurs to cross, but McConnachie tipped his sliced effort over the bar. Marc Young was next to try to break the deadlock, meeting a Cumming cross with his head with more power than direction, and the ball flew across the face of goal.

Temporary skipper Barry Somers was also causing problems up front. The meaty forward, notable for having saved the skin of his lackluster teammates back in October with a late equaliser at Grant Park, thought he had a chance at the opener after out muscling McConnachie in an aerial challenge, but the referee correctly blew for a foul against the big striker.

Midway through the half, Formartine took the lead. Stuart McKay, back in the Highland League after doing time at Peterhead, combined with Bagshaw to set up a suspiciously offside looking Marc YOUNG to slice the ball high into the net. 

On the rare occasions they had possession in the oppositions half, Lossie were struggling to find an outlet for the ball, with a well-drilled Formartine quickly closing down Lossie on the wings. Up front, the lack of Biscuits and Nikki Smith was noticeable, with the home keeper given no excuse to dirty his kit in the first half.

Half time – Formartine United 3 Lossiemouth 0

The bulk of the second half belonged to Lossie, who retained the ball much better than in the first half but still failed to test Grey in the home goal. Formartine were mentally playing the second half with slippers on and cigars lit, and could have been punished by Nikki Smith but the substitutes shot hit the outside of the post.

The quality of football declined in tandem with the pitch, causing the game to descend into a midfield battle for spells. Passing became difficult on the rutted surface and a succession of late challenges tested the patience of the referee, who was becoming as big an irritation as the playing surface to both sides. The one time Lossie showed some teeth, in the way of a perfectly timed challenge by Dunn, referee Martin Kerrigan saw fit to blow for a free kick, to the dismay of the travelling support. Formartine substitute Robert Maitland was later seen to kick Tony Ross twice in the same move, once while trying to challenge from behind and another while Ross fell to the ground, only to receive a smile from the referee.

For all their pressure, Lossie could not pull a goal back and after half an hour of huffing and puffing in the Formartine half the home side snatched a fourth, when Barry SOMERS stuck away a poorly cleared corner from all of a yard. Referee Kerrigan seemingly enjoyed the goal, laughing as he entered the details in his book and sharing a joke with the home side. SOMERS added insult to injury with a second goal for himself and a fifth for his side in stoppage time as Lossie ran out of gas. 

Full time - Formartine United 5 Lossiemouth 0

Teams

Lossiemouth - Darren McConnachie: Steven Sim, JJ Urquhart, Michael Dunn, Dan Smith, Martin McMullan, Tony Ross, Stuart Strathdee, Gary McNichol, Sean McIntosh, Kevin Flett
Formartine United - Stewart Gray: Stuart Cumming, Mark Simpson, Callum Irvine, Ally Graham, Richie Singer, Barry Somers, Pat Vigurs, Marc Young, Stuart McKay, Andrew Bagshaw

Lossiemouth - Nikki Smith (Gary McNichol, 54), Steven Mackenzie (Dan Smith, 77)
Formartine United - Stewart Shinnie (Marc Young, 70), Robert Maitland (Pat Vigurs, 70), James Sievewright (Andrew Bagshaw, 77)

Lossiemouth - None
Formartine United - None

Referee

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