11-Jul-2009

Goals were certainly not in short supply at Grant Park when Lossiemouth clashed with old rivals Elgin City. Even though The Coasters were without eight first team players, they still managed to record a creditable draw with the Third Division club.

However, despite the fact each team managed to bag three goals there was very little football being played to entertain quite a large crowd on a sunny day down by the sea in Lossiemouth.

The opening period of the match saw some good build up play from both sides but neither seemed able find that final killer ball when it mattered. Lossie were the first to go close on 8 minutes when a throw in from Lee Burke to Dan Smith resulted in the Milne's High pupil delivering a ball across the 6 yard box which was well dealt with by Elgin's keeper Paul Robertson.

One minute later Elgin had their first half chance with a direct copy of the home side's. David Niven out on the wing played the ball into the box but his cross was collected by Charlie Fox in the Lossie goal before Jason Crooks fired in a good cross for which there were no takers.

On 15 minutes good play from Lossiemouth with John Urquhart playing the ball into Shawn Scott before he in turn played it out wide for Kevin Flett to cross in to the box but again there were no takers.

Elgin's midfield then began to grab hold of the game and the visitors started to create more chances. Mark Nicholson fired in a cross which was well cleared by John Urquhart following a nice passage of play from City which saw every midfielder and attacker getting a touch of the ball.

The first attempt at goal came on 23 minutes when a very speculative long range effort from Allan Dempsie went well high and wide before a good cross in from the right from David Clark had Charlie Fox in trouble before the ball slipped just wide.

The visitors' pressure got what it deserved on 29 minutes when Brian CAMERON stabbed the ball home in a little bit of a goalmouth scramble following a good corner from Jason Crooks.

One minute later Dave Calder was dispossessed at the edge of his own box by Dan Smith but his effort lacked power and was easily held by Paul Robertson.

The Coasters grabbed an equaliser on 33 minutes with the goal of the game. A long ball up the park from Kevin Stuart was knocked down by Kevin Flett at the edge of the box to Shawn SCOTT who did really well to hold off pressure from Paul Kaczan before turning and unleashing a shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

However Elgin were back in front just 2 minutes later when Mark Nicholson put David NIVEN through one on one with Charlie Fox and the Elgin number 8 made no mistake slipping the ball past the home keeper.

Shawn Scott was released down the right wing on 40 minutes before cutting the ball back nicely for Gary MCNICHOL to tap the ball home.

Minutes before the interval Kevin Stuart gave the ball away under pressure by Craig Frizzel who found himself clean through but his lobbed effort drifted past the post.

Half time – Lossiemouth 2 Elgin City 2

On the hour mark one of many half time substitutes, Callum Forbes, hit the post with a well struck shot from the edge of the box which had Charlie Fox well and truly beaten.

At the other end Shawn Scott and Kevin Flett got in each others way when they found themselves clear and the ball fell to Sean MacIntosh but he failed to connect with it and it slipped into the hands of Paul Robertson.

Elgin had a goal disallowed on 65 minutes when Callum Forbes played Dave Calder through to finish well but the flag was raised and a free kick was given before Callum Forbes himself squandered a chance with a poor touch following a good pass from Duncan MacPhee.

Shawn Scott was played through one on one with Paul Robertson on 68 minutes but the young keeper was very quick to react and pulled off a great save to halt the attack.

Lossie substitutes combined to give the home side the lead for the first time in the match when Ross Archibald beat Daniel MacLeod down the left before firing the ball across goal for Justin RODGERS to slide the ball home from 6 yards. Rogers could and probably should have scored 5 minutes later when he rounded the City keeper before hitting the post.

Elgin got back on level terms with just five minutes left to play when a corner from the right by Daniel MacLeod found Paul KACZAN rising at the back post to power the ball into the back of the net.

Full time – Lossiemouth 3 Elgin City 3

Teams

Lossiemouth - Charlie Fox; Lee Burke, John Urquhart, Kevin Stuart, Steven A Sim, Graeme Wilson, Anthony Ross, Dan Smith, Shawn Scott, Gary McNichol, Kevin Flett
Elgin City - Paul Robertson; Alan Dempsie, David Clark, Paul Kaczan, Steven Fraser, David Calder, Jason Crooks, David Niven, Craig Frizzell, Mark Nicholson, Brian Cameron

Lossiemouth - Sean McIntosh (McNichol, 46), Sean Seaman (Burke, 46), Colin Charlesworth (Smith, 46), Justin Rodgers (Wilson, 60)
Elgin City - Daniel MacLeod (Dempsie, 46), Callum Forbes (Niven, 46), Duncan McPhee (Cameron, 46), Stephen McKenzie (Frizzell, 55), Ryan Geddes (Crooks, 64), Keiron Kingson (Robertson, 80)

Lossiemouth - None
Elgin City - None