(09/04/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE, GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)
LOSSIEMOUTH moved onto thirty points for the season with a draw at home against STRATHSPEY THISTLE, but it could have been more had Thistle not levelled with a late penalty. An own goal in the first half had given Lossie the lead, and time was almost up on the visitors when they were handed a penalty five minutes from the end, which Jake Thomson tucked away.
Lossie were without Lewis McAndrew and Ryan Farquhar as the hosts went into their penultimate game of the season, while Strathspey arrived relieved to have seen off the unlikely threat of being caught by Fort William and started with former Coasters Kris Duncan and Liam McDade in the starting line-up.
A freezing cold morning in Lossie gave way to a sunny afternoon, but the early stages failed to do the day justice as both teams looked happy just to be seeing out the season. Strathspey started well and applied some early pressure, forcing Logan Ross to command his area but the young goalkeeper took care of what came his way.
Ross was involved in the opening goal midway through the first half. A kick from hand caught the wind and sailed the length of the park, and once in the Strathspey area Liam McDade made an unfortunate connection and deflected the ball beyond MacCallum and into the net via the upright.
The half ended well for Lossie, who came close to a second through Ross Morrison who fired just over the bar from long range.
HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-0 STRATHSPEY THISTLE
The second half started with Lossie still looking to end the game with a second goal and Morrison went close again in the first minute after the restart, ratting the post from inside the area. Baylee Campbell should have made sure of the points shortly after, with his strong run from midfield taking him through on goal and round MacCallum only to fire narrowly wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.
Campbell put the miss behind him to contribute fully in the remaining time, but Lossie just could not find the final touch in the area to put the ball into the net.
The Coasters were made to pay five minutes from time when a ball into the area caused similar problems to that which saw Lossie take the lead, and James Leslie tangled with Andrew Skinner to cause a debate between the officials as to what to do. Unfortunately for Lossie, they settled on a penalty, and Jake Thomson drilled the ball below Ross to tie things up.
The performance had taken a lot out of Lossie and the closing five minutes saw the hosts look instantly leggy, and Logan Ross was called upon to save from Ross Logan in the final minute to make sure the hosts earned a point.
Lossie host Brechin City on the final weekend of the season, while Strathspey have games against Fort William and Inverurie Loco Works to close out their campaign.
FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-1 STRATHSPEY THISTLE
TEAMS:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Fergus Edwards (Niall Kennedy (87)), Michael Weir, Jared Kennedy, Dean Stewart, Liam Archibald, Connor Macaulay, James Leslie, Ryan Stuart, Ross Morrison (Ross Archibald (70)), Baylee Campbell; UNUSED SUBS – Fraser Forbes, Max Taylor, Aiden Fletcher, Danny Hall
STRATHSPEY THISTLE -Michael MacCallum; Andrew Skinner, Liam McDade, Jack Gilland, Jordan Wardrope, Craig Mackenzie, Joe Cuthbert, Ross Logan, Kris Duncan (Jordan Shaw (75)), Dylan Lawrence, Jack Davidson (Jake Thomson (56)); UNUSED SUBS – Ashley Ballam, Jack Wardrop
GOALS:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Liam McDade (25, OG)
STRATHSPEY THISTLE – Jake Thomson (85, pen)
REFEREE:
Gordon Seago
Lossiemouth FC 