A LATE winner provided some early Christmas cheer at Mosset Park on Friday night as Forres Mechanics won the first of two Moray festive derbies against Lossiemouth.

A hotly-contested match was, somehow, heading for stalemate – before Lee Fraser, playing at centre back, showed he still has his goal-scoring instincts, popping up in the box to header home a 91st minute winner.

There had been a series of chances at both ends prior to the stoppage time winner, which gives Forres, who have had a run of fixtures against the top sides, their first league win since October 15.

"We are absolutely delighted to be on the right end of a late goal for a change because of the amount of times that we've suffered that this season," Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald said.

"I feel sorry for Lossiemouth because I thought they were excellent, but it feels good to get a late goal and I'm delighted the boys kept going and kept fighting and we got our rewards at the end.

"There wasn't much between the teams but it gives us a boost to get three points again and to get a win.

"We have been doing well but we haven't been getting the results so to turn that into three points feels massive."

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Both teams had half chances to open the scoring early on but it was Lossiemouth that had the first consistent spell of pressure – with Ross Elliot's precise header drawing a tremendous save from Stuart Knight down to his left.

Knight denied Elliot again two minutes later, before Adam MacLeod's low ball rolled across the goal line with no takers.

Liam Archibald had a chance before half-time when he capitalised on a heavy touch from Knight 25 yards from goal, but he couldn't direct his effort on target.

Lossiemouth keeper Logan Ross was called into action three minutes before the break, parrying away Ben Barron's well-struck 20-yard volley.

Lossie's visiting fans were tricked into thinking they'd taken the lead on the hour mark when Niall Kennedy's long range effort was turned an inch wide by MacLeod.

A 20-yard rocket from Mackenzie seemed to be giving Ross no chance on 70 minutes, but the impressive visiting keeper pulled out a fingertip save to keep the scores level.

Mackenzie was at the heart of the next move, too, which – somehow – didn't end with a Cans goal. He cut the ball into the six-yard box and Barron and Ethan Cairns both saw efforts blocked away by a combination of keeper and defender.

Lossiemouth had chances to win the game but Knight was wise to MacLeod's attempted chip in the last minute.

After a serious of late corners, the winner arrived courtesy of centre back Lee Fraser, who found himself unmarked in the six-yard box to nod home a hard-fought winner.

There was a chance to put a cherry on the Christmas cake for Mechanics – but Ross again pulled off an impressive save, tipping over Cairns powerful effort.

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MacDonald added: "It was a really good game, it was end-to-end stuff and Lossiemouth were going for the winner at the end. They really did so well and are a team on the up.

"They compete really hard and had some good individual players that stood out, and it's really hard on them. But as I say, I can't feel too sorry for them because it's happened to us a lot this season.

"I don't think it was our best performance but I'm pleased we kept believing, going to the end and battling."

The two teams clash again at Lossiemouth's Grant Park on Friday, December 30, where Mechanics right-back Andy Skinner is set to return.