Ryan Farquhar back in a Lossiemouth shirt as the Coasters prepare to take on Formartine United in today's Highland League action
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LOSSIEMOUTH manager Joe Russell is delighted to have experienced midfielder Ryan Farquhar back in the Coasters fold.
Farquhar recently returned to the Grant Park club and made his return in Wednesday night's 6-1 defeat at Fraserburgh.
The former Forres Mechanics, Elgin City and Deveronvale player had considered packing in football during Covid but decided to make a comeback with Lossie.
He had been playing welfare football for Hopeman to get himself fit for a Highland League return and Russell expects to see the best of him soon.
"We got some minutes into him at Fraserburgh and it's good to see him back," Russell said.
"He's a quality player and he just needs to get himself up to Highland League speed.
"He got the hook after an hour (at Fraserburgh) when his legs were turning to jelly but he will get there."
Farquhar is likely to feature against Formartine United today, with Lossie keen to build on some good home form this season.
The Pitmedden side will be strong favourites to win but Russell believes his men can take plenty positives from their loss to leaders Fraserburgh in midweek.
"We are trying to make Grant Park a difficult place for other teams to come to and make it uncomfortable for them.
"I'm hoping we can do this to Formartine and give them a right good game."
Full 90 minutes on Fraserburgh's YouTube channel above.
After taking the lead at Bellslea Park through a Connor Macaulay's clinical left foot finish, Lossie were quickly pegged back but still level until the last two minutes of the first half when they conceded twice.
A red card shown to centre back Dean Stewart for a late lunge effectively ended Lossie's challenge at the start of the second half.
Still the Coasters battled manfully and were 4-1 down in the closing moments, when two more Broch goals gave the scoreline a harsher look.
“We started off pretty well and got the goal, and we were taking the game to them and playing some really good stuff,” he said.
“We rocked them back on their heels a bit.
“Conceding a couple of sloppy goals right on half time was a sore one but I thought if we got the next goal we could get back in the game - but the sending off for Dean pretty much put the game to bed.
“I thought we could see it out at 4-1 but then they got a couple more right at the end.
"That made the scoreline so much different and hard to take, as even with ten men we played some excellent stuff and created some chances.”
Stewart will be suspended for today's match against Formartine, meaning a defensive reshuffle for Russell and his coaching team.
The Coasters have lost just once at home this season in league action, beating Keith and Wick and drawing with second-placed Inverurie Locos.
