Darren McConnachie and Martin McMullan returned to the Lossie side after missing out at Turriff, while Shawn Scott played his last game for a while due to an upcoming suspension. Former Lossie player and hero of Locos weekend victory over Buckie, Michael Morrison, returned to his old club but, since the clubs met previously in August, Locos have continued to lose senior players, with Richie Singer the latest Loco to leave for big spending Formartine United only days before this game.

The teams must have been as surprised as the supporters to see the Grant Park surface looking as lush as it has all season, with a light frost helping firm up a surface that had taken on a lot of water during the day. Lossie were admiring the pitch a little too much in the opening stages as Locos threatened to take the lead. The Lossie rearguard had a number of nervy moments, with clearances scuffed towards the enclosure on more than one occasion.

The visitors went ahead midway through the half. One of the remaining old guard Neil MCLEAN took possession and made for the penalty area. In the absence of a meaningful challenge, McLean kept going before shooting past McConnachie to give Locos the lead their possession to that point had deserved. McLean

The goal spurred Lossie into action, but Lossie were struggling to break down a more physical Locos side. Shawn Scott, facing a three match ban following a series of controversial bookings, threw himself into the game and chased the ball all over the park, but was left frustrated thanks to some over fussy whistling.

Lossie got their equaliser just before the interval. Stuart Strathdee and Nikki SMITH linked up well in the Locos are and the latter rifled the ball through the legs of Reid from inside the six yard box.

Half time – Lossiemouth 1 Inverurie Locos 1

The game remained a tense affair well into the second half, as the whistling continued and the players slowly began to freeze. The game lacked any kind of rhythm thanks to a succession of fouls and substitutions, and the longer the game went on it looked more and more likely that the next goal would be the winner.

Lossie were restricting Locos to shots from distance, while at the other end the lack of a killer ball was hurting Lossie. Too many corners and crosses failed to beat the first man or went long over the penalty area, as Lossies frustrations continued. Locos were far from accurate either, a set piece for the visitors sent over the bar from outside the area by Neil Gauld. Darren McConnachie was on hand to keep the score level, saving from point blank range and from the rebound Gauld hit the bar when it looked easier to score.

Following the substitutions, it was inevitable that one would chip in with the winner. Gauld curled a free kick into the penalty area and Roddy MESS rose highest to bullet the ball past McConnachie for what turned out to be the winner.

Lossie had ten minutes to salvage a point but could not find the killer ball that would have carved open a Locos side who were not of the usual quality. The home sides late pressure began to affect the composure of the visitors, specifically Michael Morrison who finally lost his cool and started roaring at one of his team mates, but Locos held on for the points.

Full time - Lossiemouth 1 Inverurie Locos 2

Teams

Lossiemouth - Darren McConnachie: Steven Sim, Kevin Flett, JJ Urquhart, Sam Milton, Martin McMullan, Shawn Scott, Gary Macdonald, Nikki Smith, Stuart Strathdee, Jamie Bagley
Inverurie Locos - Andy Reid: Steven Park, Scott Buchan, Jamie Michie, Michael Morrison, David Merriman, Craig Ross, Richard Davidson, Bruce Cormie, Neil Gauld, Neil McLean

Lossiemouth - Dan Smith (Gary Macdonald, 58), Sean McIntosh (Nikki Smith, 69), Tony Ross (Jamie Bagley, 88)
Inverurie Locos - Andrew Bisset (Neil McLean, 30), Jack Strachan (Craig Ross, 55), Roddy Mess (Jamie Michie, 65)

Lossiemouth - None
Inverurie Locos - None

Referee

Disagree?