Lossie came up short against Aberdeenshire opposition once again after a narrow defeat to Buckie Thistle at Grant Park. The Coasters took the lead through Shawn Scott, only for Buckie to rally in the second half with goals from David MacRae and Stephen Bruce.

The teams arrived at the venue with rumours of a postponement in the air. Heavy rain in the morning saw a lot of standing water on the playing surface, but some pre-match forking of the turf saw it fit for purpose, at least in the eyes of the referee. Lossie were without Martin McMullan, Kevin Flett and Steven Sim due to suspension, while Nikki Smith made the bench. Buckie started with Darren Strong in goals and former Coaster Kevin Main on the bench.

Both sides struggled in the early stages as the continuous and heavy rain rendered pointless the work done on the pitch before kick-off, and the turf quickly turned to mud. Lossie had the first half chance, former Thistle player Shawn Scott setting up Garry Macdonald for a strike which went just wide.

As the players got used to the conditions, chances to open the scoring fell to both sides. Donnie Munro was handed a free shot at goal inside the box following a pass from Charlie Brown, but Munro blazed the ball high over the bar and out of the ground. Martin Charlesworth had an even easier chance to score but, having done the hard work of controlling the ball and turning Urquhart on the edge of the area, his shot sailed wide of goal.

Lossie were enjoying a lot of possession in midfield, with Garry Macdonald and Dan Smith winning possession on a regular basis. At the business end, Jordan Main came closest to scoring when his shot rattled the corner of post and crossbar.

Midway through the half, Lossie did go ahead. Garry Macdonald took possession in midfield and played a perfect pass forward to Shawn SCOTT, who held off Lewis Mackinnon and Jamie Shewan before sliding the ball under Strong. The goal, his seventh in five games, was well deserved for Biscuits, whose energy and movement would cause Buckie problems all afternoon. 

Buckie managed to keep the ball in the Lossie danger zone for periods but rarely forced Craig Masterton into a save. Charlie Brown came closest, forcing the stand-in keeper to dive low at his near post following a shot, while a long range effort from MacRae was blocked by Kevin Stuart.

Half time – Lossiemouth 1 Buckie Thistle 0

Lossie continued to push for a second goal, and were handed a chance from a set piece on the edge of the area in front of goal. Urquhart took the free kick, but skied the ball high over the bar, higher even than Munro’s earlier effort, much to the dismay of the Lossie bench.

With the league leaders both on Scottish Cup duty, the visitors were eager for all three points to haul themselves out of mid-table and closer to the top, and on the hour made a treble substitution. Craig Macmillan, Stephen Bruce and Ian Murray, the latter once hated by the Buckie support more than almost anyone else during his time at Deveronvale, all appeared, and were immediately involved in Buckies equaliser. Macmillan nodded down a cross from Robert Duncan into the path of David MACRAE and the former Nairn County player made no mistake from a dozen yards.

The continuing rain had turned the middle of the park into a mud bath, but there was no let up in pace from Buckie as they scored a second goal. The visitors turned the game on its head only seven minutes after they had equalised, when Stephen BRUCE headed home an Ian Murray cross before celebrating in front of the now cheery Buckie fans, who until the equaliser had stood in near-silence at the news title rivals Forres Mechanics had rattled seven past Rothes, only perking up when rumours of a Deveronvale defeat started to circulate.

Buckie could have added to their haul towards the end, with Ian Murray forcing a save from Masterton. In the dying seconds goalscorer Stephen Bruce squared to Craig Macmillan, but the already celebrating Buckie fans were left looking as confused as everyone else in the ground as the substitute shanked the ball wide of goal.

Following that hilarious miss, the referee blew for time and gave the players and supporters respite from the rain, which continued to pour long after the final whistle.

Full time – Lossiemouth 1 Buckie Thistle 2

Teams

Lossiemouth - Craig Masterton: Craig Donaldson, Jordan Main, Kevin Stuart, John Urquhart, Gary Macdonald, Sean McIntosh, Dan Smith, Shawn Scott, Gary McNichol, Jamie Bagley
Buckie Thistle - Darren Strong: Jamie Shewan, Robert Duncan, David Angus, Lewis MacKinnon, Donnie Munro, David MacRae, Graeme Stewart, Charlie Brown, Martin Charlesworth, Zander Sutherland

Lossiemouth - Tony Ross, Michael Macgregor, Scott Stuart, Kyle Stewart, Colin Charlesworth
Buckie Thistle - Ian Murray, Stephen Bruce, Craig MacMillan, Kevin Small, Kevin Main

Lossiemouth - None
Buckie Thistle - None

Referee

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