Not a single person in the ground chose to brave the elements, with everyone cramming into the enclosure in a bid to keep dry. The park was starting to look flooded in places even before kick-off, but the game went ahead. Lossie were without Martin McMullan and had Craig Masterton deputising in goals, while Cove had new signing Jamie Buchan on the bench.

Lossie hadn’t achieved as much as a point at Allan Park in more than five years, but wasted no time in going ahead as early as the fifth minute. Kevin Stuart played a ball forward to Nikki SMITH who fired the ball under McKenzie from ten yards, to the delight of the Lossie stragglers still making their way into the ground.

It took until almost the half hour mark for Cove to manage a reply, and from a corner Sam MILTON kneed the ball into his own net to level the scores. Less than a minute later, Cove were ahead. Paul TOSH whipped a ball into the box from out on the touchline, only for the wind to take it off course, over Masterton and straight into the net.

Half time – Cove Rangers 2 Lossiemouth 1

The Coasters were not behind for long in the second half. Nikki Smith steamed into the box and was hauled down by a slipping McKenzie. Once the keeper had been booked, Shawn SCOTT stepped up to pull Lossie level. 

The rain continued to pour down, with the ground staff taking the time at stoppages in play to fork the turf along the touchline, while puddles appeared in the middle of the park.

With an hour gone, the game roared into life. Kevin WEBSTER grabbed his first of the afternoon with a shot from the edge of the area, and five minutes later Cove bagged another. A handball by Steven Sim saw the Lossie man red-carded, albeit after referee Scott Macdonald threatened to send off Dan Smith instead, and the resulting penalty was converted by WEBSTER.

Lossie were far from out of things, and ensured an entertaining last ten minutes by pulling a goal back. Another foul on Nikki Smith in the area resulted in a penalty for the visitors, and it was again hammered home by Shawn SCOTT.

Before Lossie could compose themselves and look for a second equaliser, Cove were out of sight, thanks to two goals in four minutes. Paul TOSH scored his sides fifth, and Kevin WEBSTER made it six for Cove and three for him with a beautifully hit free kick from out on the wing.

Cove finished the scoring in injury time, with late sub Barrie STEPHEN grabbing the seventh to bring to a close a very wet but entertaining afternoon. Despite the scoreline, Lossie were far from outclassed, and can take a lot of positives from the last three games into the double header against Buckie Thistle.

Full time – Cove Rangers 7 Lossiemouth 3

Teams

Lossiemouth - Craig Masterton: Steven Sim, Sam Milton, Craig Donaldson, Kevin Stuart, Gary Macdonald, Sean McIntosh, JJ Urquhart, Shawn Scott, Nikki Smith, Jamie Bagley
Cove Rangers - Stuart McKenzie: Neil Cruickshank, Roddy Black, Clark Bain, Jordan Heads, Kevin Tindal, Robbie Henderson, Martin Johnston, Paul Tosh, Kevin Webster, Danny Milne

Lossiemouth - Dan Smith (Craig Donaldson, 24), Tony Ross (Sean McIntosh, 64), Scot Stuart (Jamie Bagley, 74)
Cove Rangers - Barrie Stephen (Robbie Henderson, 74), Murray McCulloch (Kevin Webster, 85), Jamie Buchan (Danny Milne, 85)

Lossiemouth - Steven Sim (72)
Cove Rangers - None

Referee

Disagree?