THE Musk travelled to Beach Park, Balmedie to take on Aberdeen Amateur Football Association newcomers Highland Hotel who have been flying high in the Third Division as they went into this Second Round Scottish Amateur Cup tie.

They had to make do without the attacking threat of Beaton, Howden, McAtarsney, Cruden, Robertson and Findlater for a variety of reasons while injury ruled out centre half Graeme Smart.

Starting places were handed to Akroyd, Thomson, Barron, R. Mackie and Russell as five changes to last week's starting 11 were forced upon gaffer George Mackie.

Monymusk kicked off on an immaculate surface resembling a carpet but were soon met by a strong challenge from the fired up home side. The early exchanges provided little in entertainment with the home side having a few shots which failed to trouble keeper Kenneth Akroyd.

Gradually the Musk came into the match and midway through the half they created a decent opening when Chris Wood latched onto a flick on from Ross Mackie but could only stab wide as they keeper narrowed the angle.

This gave Musk a lift and they almost took the lead when Liam Barron met Phil Kelman's corner at the back post but his downward header was scrapped the outside of the post. They sensed a goal was coming and Ross Mackie was next to try his luck but his drive from distance was off target.

Highland countered but found keeper Akroyd in fine form as he blocked well. The half ended goalless with the Musk maybe just shading it in terms of possession with Highland happy to clear their lines from back to front rather than use the ball on the ground.

Disaster was to strike when Musk fell behind within minutes of the restart, an all too familiar pattern so far this season. From a throw in, the home striker was given all the time in the world to control, skip into the box and fire through a ruck of players and beyond keeper Akroyd. This galvanised the home side and for the next 15 or 20 minutes they contained The Musk with relative ease.

The Musk then won a free kick in a dangerous position but defender Mark Thomson's header failed to trouble the home keeper. They went close again when Ross Mackie's bullet free kick was spilled but the keeper recovered fantastically to block a follow up from Mike Russell.

The Musk made three changes simultaneously with Finlay Duff, Calum Nicholson and Neil Duncan replacing Barron, R.Mackie and Lyon.

However, within moments they game seemed to be over when slack marking from a cross led to a free header being expertly placed into the corner to extend Highland's advantage within barely ten minutes remaining.

Musk were right back in it with five minutes remaining when Geo Mackie burst onto a loose ball and despite an attempt to scythe him down, he drilled home into the far corner.

Gaffer Mackie followed national boss George Burley's example by throwing a big man into the forward line, in the shape of centre back Mark Thomson, and he soon came close when his shot on the turn drifted just wide. They had Highland pressed firmly back now but couldn't get on the end of any telling balls into the box.

And unfortunately it was Highland who would put the game beyond any doubt deep into injury time when another long ball forward caught out Musk as they had pushed bodies forward to get an equaliser. Despite Akroyd's fantastic initial block, the rebound fell kindly back to the striker to roll into an unguarded net.

All in all it was probably a deserved defeat for Musk who had failed to produce the performances levels shown on a previous five match unbeaten run. They will need to work much harder and show more appetite from the first whistle when they travel to face in-form Tarves in the third round of the AFC Trophy this Saturday (October 18).

Monymusk: Akroyd, Lyon, Thomson, Riddell, Barron, G. Mackie, Wood, Kelman, Henderson, R. Mackie, Russell. Subs: Nicholson, Duff, Duncan.