Lossiemouth welcomed first-footers Rothes to Grant Park for the first game of 2006 and carried on where they left off against Fraserburgh. Two goals from Craig Morrison and one each from Steven Ellis and Dougie Coull secured another three points with a fine performance, ensuring that Rothes have suffered defeat in all four games against the Coasters this season.

The home side scored the opener with only seven minutes gone. After a one-two with Dougie Coull, Lee Moir stormed into the box and shot at goal, only for Strong to parry the ball to the feet of Craig MORRISON, who rolled the ball over the line from close range.

Lossie were instantly on the back foot as Rothes looked to equalise quickly. The visitors had the ball in the net just after quarter of an hour, but the referee disallowed the headed effort from George Massie for a foul on Lossie goalkeeper Steve Dunn.

Lossie continued to test Strong in the Rothes goal, with both McMullan and Coull giving Strong cause for concern as both fired shots in on target.

On the half hour, Rothes were level. Lee Moir was harshly penalized on the edge of the box for a challenge on Smith, and Brian THOMPSON curled home the resultant free kick to bring his side level.

Lossie had a great opportunity to poach a second after breaking quickly through the middle following a Rothes corner. As he ran down the middle of the park, Steven Ellis failed to see Craig Morrison in acres of space, and instead passed to Coull, whose shot was well held by Strong.

Five minutes before the break, Lossie restored their advantage. Gary Youngson fired another testing free kick towards the box where it found Morrison, who fired a shot across the face of goal and ELLIS was on hand to turn it over the line.

Half time - Lossiemouth 2 Rothes 1

Seven minutes into the second half and Lossie doubled their lead. Gary Youngson swung a corner into the box and after a flap in the air from Darren Strong under pressure from COULL, the ball ended up in the goal and Lossie were cruising.

Lossie were reduced to ten men midway through the half when Mike Smith went to ground easily in the Lossie goalmouth under a challenge from Watson. The referee showed no hesitation in dismissing the Lossie man before awarding Rothes a penalty. Brian THOMPSON stepped up and sent Dunn the wrong way to reduce the arrears.

Despite the difference in numbers, Lossie continued to harass the Rothes defence, and after latching onto a through ball, Morrison raced towards the corner of the 18-yard box before shooting just over. Minutes later, another chance fell to Morrison, but with the ball getting stuck under his feet in the six yard box, the defence had time to clear.

The former New Elgin goal machine made amends shortly after however when he scored Lossies fourth of the afternoon. A long punt downfield from Dunn eluded a static defence to allow MORRISON to run through and put the ball beyond Strong for his second of the afternoon.

Lossie could have had a fifth with ten minutes to go when Smith rattled the cross bar with a 30 yard lob over Strong, but the ball bounced down into the arms of the relieved Rothes keeper.

In the fifth minute of injury time, Rothes clawed a goal back with another set piece. Brian THOMPSON secured his hat trick when he curled a beauty of a strike up and over the wall and beyond Dunn.

Full time - Lossiemouth 4 Rothes 3