A third consecutive league win left Lossiemouth sitting clear at the top of the Scot-Ads Highland League table, their win away over Rothes keeping the Coasters two points clear of Keith in second. Lossie gave Rothes a goal of a start in the first half, before equalising through Tony Ross. Shawn Scott rattled a penalty against the bar before saving the day in the dying minutes with a fine finish.

Lossie started with former Rothes men Ross Duncan and Steven Sim in the line-up but were without Kevin Stuart and Nikki Smith. Rothes were weakened in the days before the game by the departure of former Coaster Franny More to Huntly, and had another ex-Lossie man on the bench in the shape of last minute magician Sean McIntosh.

Like Lossie, Rothes were unbeaten heading into this game and looked the livelier in the opening stages. The Speysiders were the width of the crossbar away from going ahead following a Stuart Flett header, before Stuart Strathdee managed the same for Lossie at the other end.

Rothes continued to press for an opener and were appealing loudly for a penalty before the half hour mark, but referee Jim Lyon was having none of it. A second howl for a spot-kick went unheeded and Rothes ringmaster Graham McBeath was given a talking to about his touchline behaviour as nerves began to fray in the home dugout.

Rothes went ahead with ten minutes of the half left. A Stuart Massie cross was half cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Lewis DUGUID put the laces through ball, sending it along the ground and past McConnachie for the opener.

McConnachie ensured the hosts lead remained at a minimum as the game headed for half time, saving and holding a powerful drive from Ashley Grant.

Half time - Rothes 1 Lossiemouth 0

Lossie were noticeably sharper as the second half started and Ross Duncan was first to threaten a rocky home defence, heading wide a cross from Shawn Scott five minutes into the half.

The pressure continued and Lossie were on level terms before the hour. A scramble for possession on the edge of the area went Lossies way, the ball eventually finding its way to the feet of Tony ROSS who sidefooted it across goal, past a despairing Horne and into the net at the far post for his second equaliser of the season.

Minutes later and Lossie were handed a chance to go ahead. A clumsy sliding challenge from Stuart Massie hauled down Shawn Scott in the area and the visitors were awarded a penalty. Biscuits grabbed the ball and took the kick but saw it rattle the top of the crossbar and sail out of the ground.

A rash of substitutes broke up play but Lossie still created chances. Balls into the area provided opportunities for Kevin Flett and Ross Duncan but Flett headed straight at Horne while Duncan headed wide.

The game was approaching stoppage time when Biscuits made amends for his penalty miss by securing the points for Lossie. Second half sub Jamie Bagley played a perfect pass ahead of Shawn SCOTT who drilled the ball under Horne for the winner.

Full time - Rothes 1 Lossiemouth 2

Teams

Lossiemouth - Darren McConnachie: Steven Sim Defender, Kevin Flett, JJ Urquhart, Sam Milton, Martin McMullan, Ross Midfield, Dan Smith, Shawn Scott, Stuart Strathdee, Ross Duncan
Rothes - Ricky Horne: Ashley Grant, Stephen Fraser, Ian Macrae, Lewis Duguid, Greig Lamberty, Michael Fletcher, Scott Robison, Kris Duncan, Stuart Flett, Stuart Massie 

Lossiemouth - Ross Archibald (Stuart Strathdee, 76), Colin Charlesworth (Martin McMullan, 82), Jamie Bagley (Tony Ross, 85)
Rothes - Lewis Robertson (Michael Fletcher, 80), Sean McIntosh (Stuart Flett, 87)

Lossiemouth - Liam Archibald, Gary McKnockiter
Rothes - Joe Gerrie, Scott Bowie, Trialist

Lossiemouth - Tony Ross (59), Shawn Scott (89)
Rothes - Lewis Duguid (35)

Lossiemouth - None
Rothes - None

Referee

Disagree?