Qualifying Cup (North) First Round

Lossiemouth first set off on the Road to Hampden on August 27th, with a trip to King George V Park and a game against Golspie Sutherland in the First Round of the Qualifying Cup (North). As the only non-HFL side in the draw, Golspie represented a great chance for Lossie to progress to the Second Round, but as an unknown quantity they could also pose something of a banana skin to any Highland League club who took them lightly.

In bleak conditions, Lossie put in a solid, if unspectacular, performance and goals from David Hendry and Craig Morrison secured a 2-0 victory and passage into the Second Round, leaving the Coasters only ninety minutes from the Scottish Cup. Click here for the match report, and here for the match photos.

Golspie and Lossiemouth in action at King George V Park against Golspie Sutherland in the First Round of the Qualifying Cup

Qualifying Cup (North) Second Round

The draw for the Second Round of the Qualifying Cup paired Lossiemouth with Rothes, with the tie to be played at Mackessack Park. This was to be the third time this season the two sides had met, with Lossie having won the previous two encounters; the Coasters stole the points in the league tie in August on a blazing hot day at Mackessack Park, and did the same again in torrential rain ten days later in the North of Scotland Cup at Grant Park.

The Lossiemouth squad before the game, and the two teams competing for a place in the Tennents Scottish Cup at Mackessack Park

A soggy afternoon in Rothes saw Lossie take an early lead through Graeme Kennedy before being pegged back with fifteen minutes to go, only for the visitors to snatch victory in the 92nd minute, with David Hendry scoring the vital winner. Click here for the match report and here for the match photos.

  
David Hendry scores, and then celebrates his last minute winner against Rothes (images courtesy of the Northern Scot and the Press and Journal), and the team celebrating afterwards in the dressing room (picture by Tommy Madden)

Qualifying Cup (North) Semi Final (and replay)

Now that the formality of qualifying was over and done with, Lossie had the diversion of a cup semi-final to take part in. Inverurie Locos were drawn against the Coasters and the Aberdeenshire side were expected to steam right through Lossie at Grant Park and went some way toward doing so, going two goals with just ten minutes left to play. Lossie were not dead and buried yet, however, and goals from Graeme Kennedy and a 94th minute penalty from Steven Ellis ensured the game would be replayed. Click here for the initial match report and here for the photos.

Lossie in action against Inverurie Locos at Grant Park, and Steven Ellis secures a replay with a last gasp penalty (Northern Scot)

Unfortunately the replay didn't go quite as planned, and Lossie surrendered an early lead to eventually lose 3-1. Qualification for the cup had been achieved however, and that was good enough for the Lossie support who now look forward to a game against Spartans, and maybe another tie afterwards. Click here for the replay match report and here for the photos.