Forres freeze out Lossie to stretch lead
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FORRES Mechanics looked sure-footed on a frosty pitch as they stretched their lead at the top of the Highland League to five points.
They eased past Lossiemouth 3-0 at Grant Park to open up a decisive gap on Cove Rangers, whose game at Nairn fell victim to the weather.
Forres dominated the first half but it took them 35 minutes to find a way through. However, when the goal came it was a cracker from Kevin Duguid.
Lossie went down to ten men when Bryan Bell was shown a red card for a last man challenge on Duguid ten minutes into the second half.
Nathan Sharp headed them into a 2-0 lead when he deftly flicked the ball into the net from a Simon Allan corner in the 65th minute.
And sub Willie Barron capped a fine performance when he cracked home a third 13 minutes from the end after a great cross from Duguid.
Boss Charlie Rowley (pictured) said: "From start to finish I thought we were fantastic. I was expecting a really tough game but I thought we dominated.
"I knew Lossie would be fit but we just ran over the top of them.
"Stuart (Knight) didn't have a save to make and was getting quite cold by the end of the game."
Can-Cans skipper Ross MacPherson said: "That was a hard working performance. We knew Lossie were a strong side and this would be a real test for us."
Lossie boss Charlie Charlesworth admitted suspension and injuries hampered his team before and during the game.
"Forres look very confident and I can only apologise for not giving them more of a challenge. It was a bad day."
Elsewhere in the Highland League, Buckie Thistle's fading title hopes took a further knock with a 1-0 defeat at Fraserburgh.
Deveronvale beat Wick 2-0 in Banff and Brora won 3-1 at Fort William. The other five games were postponed due to the weather.
