Lossiemouth and Deveronvale served up a seven goal thriller at Grant Park, with the visitors scoring a last gasp winner to secure the points. Lossie had come from behind to lead 3-1 with goals from Jordan Main, Shawn Scott and Nikki Smith, but a second half hat-trick from Mark Smith won the game for Vale.

Lossie were missing Martin McMullan and Scott Matheson but welcomed back Kevin Stuart into the starting eleven, while Jamie Bagley was listed as substitute. Vale had former Coaster Mike McKenzie starting the game, while Mark Chisholm, a regular scorer against Lossie for Vale, had to make do with the bench.

A poor performance against Turriff the previous week had people predicting a cricket score for a strong Deveronvale side, and things looked ominous less than ten minutes in when the visitors went ahead. A dive by Gary McGowan won a free kick on the edge of the box; McGowan took it quickly, laying it off to Mike MCKENZIE who rifled home an unstoppable shot from fifteen yards.

Lossie were not behind for long, and equalised on 16 minutes. Shawn Scott, who would have a hand in all three of his sides goals, crossed for Jordan MAIN who netted from close range.

After a solid start, Vale were threatening to go to pieces. Shawn Scott found acres of room in front of goal before stinging the palms of Blanchard with a shot. A John Urquhart free kick almost found a wide open Nikki Smith at the back post, the ball a fraction too high.

Lossie made the next chance count. More sloppy defending from Vale saw a Kevin Flett pass go clean through to Shawn SCOTT, who sprinted away from the Vale rearguard before sliding the ball past Blanchard from inside the area.

Half time – Lossiemouth 2 Deveronvale 1

Lossie continued where they left off in the second half, pushing Vale back in the pursuit of a third goal, starting with a strike from Shawn Scott which Blanchard saved at the base of his post.

Ten minutes into the half, Lossie were 3-1 up. Rather than defend a Lossie attack down the right by Shawn Scott, Vale sought to play a poor offside trap, allowing Biscuits to race on down the wing before squaring to Nikki SMITH, who could not miss from six yards. Minutes later, Smith almost made it four, but was put off in mid strike by Blanchard and Robert Brown. The pressure continued, Kevin Flett heading an Urquhart corner onto the bar.

Vale rang the changes on the hour, sending on Chisholm and Paul Urquhart to try and add some beef to the team. The substitutions paid off almost immediately, as Mark SMITH reduced the deficit with 24 minutes left. Graeme Rodger had a go at securing a leveller with a long-range effort, but his shot soared wide of goal.

Vale upped a gear in the pursuit of an equaliser, and got it with fifteen minutes left. Mark SMITH got his second of the afternoon with a header from a corner, as Lossie began to struggle at the back.

With minutes left, Biscuits could have won it for Lossie. The Lossie man of the match found himself unmarked on the edge of the area with time to shoot, but scuffed his shot into the arms of Blanchard.

Full time – Lossiemouth 3 Deveronvale 4

Teams

Lossiemouth - Chris Stuart: Craig Donaldson, Kevin Flett, Kevin Stuart, Sam Milton, Gary Macdonald, Tony Ross, John Urquhart, Shawn Scott, Nikki Smith, Jordan Main
Deveronvale - James Blanchard: Graeme Rodger, Steve Dolan, Derek Milne, Scott Fraser, Mark Smith, Gary McGowan, Robert Brown, Robbie Duncanson, Mike McKenzie, Mark Cowie

Lossiemouth - Jamie Bagley (Gary Macdonald, 68), Sean McIntosh (Nikki Smith, 82), Michael Macgregor (Tony Ross, 86)
Deveronvale - Mark Chisholm (Mark Cowie, 60), Paul Urquhart (Graeme Rodger, 66), Magnus Barclay (Robbie Duncanson, 66)

Lossiemouth - None
Deveronvale - None

Referee

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