Fraserburgh go three points clear at top of Breedon Highland League after a 'bit of a fright' at Lossiemouth
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A HARD fought 3-1 win against a battling Lossiemouth saw Fraserburgh move three points clear of Buckie Thistle at the top of the Breedon Highland League.
The home side made the Broch work hard for the points at Grant Park and it took a 90th minute goal to finally kill off a plucky home challenge.
The league leaders got off to the perfect start when Liam Archibald's attempted clearance rebounded off Logan Watt and flew into the net in the third minute.
They added a second in the 28th minute when Scott Barbour curled a free kick into the net from the edge of the box, after referee Kevin Buchanan had awarded a free-kick for high feet against a Lossiemouth player, although the incident looked to be inside the penalty area.
Barbour got the ball round the wall and beyond the reach of keeper Oliver Kelly.
Lossie created two half chances before the break with efforts from Ryan Farquhar and Ross Morrison but neither failed to really trouble Paul Leask in the Broch goal.
However, the Coasters took the game to the visitors in the second half and deservedly got back into the game when Farquhar scored a spectacular goal from 40 yards in the 59th minute.
Leask had charged out of his box to head clear from James Leslie's long pass, however, the ball went straight to Farquhar who sent a high looping shot over Leask and into the unguarded net.
The young Lossie side were growing in confidence although struggled to carve out any clear cut chances to get back on level terms, despite having lots of possession and good territory around the Fraserburgh box.
Kelly produced a good save to deny Paul Campbell's headed effort, before Fraserburgh sealed the points in the final minute of normal time when sub Sean Butcher poked the ball home from close range to break Lossie's resolve.
Lossiemouth assistant manager Ian Campbell said: "We have said to them if we play like that every week, we can challenge any team in the league. That's a good Fraserburgh team, for me the best team in the league, and we have given them a bit of a fright."
Defender Lewis McAndrew added: "I felt we had them rattled at times. We were trying to keep it tight for as long possible and then go for it."
McAndrew admitted he relished the physical battle with Scott Barbour.
"He's a brilliant player. Probably one of the best strikers in the Highland League, if not the best.
"We have a hard run coming with games against Formartine and Brora but we just have to keep working."
In the only other game played in the Highland League, Brora Rangers and Wick drew 2-2, a result which dented Brora's title challenge.
All the other games in the Highland League were postponed because of the weather.
