This weekends trip to Rothes proved a profitable one for Lossie, as they picked up all three points and a clean sheet for the first time this season. An entertaining game for all who attended, both sides had enough chances to win half a dozen games, but it was Craig Morrison and Lee Moir who both struck late on to secure the points for the Coasters.              

A blazing hot day should have subdued the pace of the game, but Rothes came out flying and had Lossie on the back foot right the first whistle. The visitors looked to be playing with three at the back to accommodate the present personnel, and started slowly. Michael Rae, standing in for injured keeper Steve Dunn, earned his money by stopping a number of shots early on, as Rothes tried to open the scoring.

Lossie were still struggling to impose themselves on the game, but with McIntosh retiring injured after twenty minutes to be replaced by Jordan Main, the game opened up a little for the visitors, and they started to ask questions of the Rothes defence.

Lee Moir went on a mazy run for all of forty yards which took him into the Rothes penalty area, but he was stopped in his tracks and the home side cleared the danger. Rothes were next to try their luck, and Chris Henderson hit a fine shot over the head of Rae, only to watch it bounce back off the post and into the arms of the keeper.

Half time – Rothes 0 Lossiemouth 0

The second half continued at the same pace, with both sides desperate to get the first goal. Rothes forced a corner in the opening minute of the half, which sailed over the head of Rae and was cleared. Straight after, Lossie ran downfield, and McMullan launched a thunderbolt from 25 yards, but the ball sailed just over the bar.

Rae was called on a number of times to keep the scoreline blank, and made several excellent saves from point blank range, and you began to think Rothes were just not going to score.

Midway through the second half, as the referee stopped the game to allow players from both sides to take on water, as temperatures remained high. The break in action didn’t last long, as Craig Morrison immediately sprung the offside trap to find himself I the clear, but his chip over Darren Strong in goal landed just wide of the post. Play raced back to the other end, where Rothes were continuing to have no luck whatsoever. Shots were flying wide of both posts and over the bar, many of which would have been easier to score, but it wasn’t happening for the home side.

Just less than ten minutes from the end, Lossie found the breakthrough. Craig MORRISON was played onside and found himself with just the keeper to beat. The netminder was chipped for the second time in the half, but this time the ball landed on the right side of the post and bounced in, giving the new signing his second goal in two games.

A good solid win for Lossie who rode their luck in defence at times, but took their chances to finish the game and gives the team a good foundation to build on for next weeks trip into the unknown at Golspie. Morrison looks to be finding his feet, but Jim Walker will surely be concerned about the number of injuries the squad has picked up recently.