Elgin City cruised into the semi finals of the Inverness Cup with a comfortably 4-0 win over Lossiemouth with Martin Johnston proving the star of the show with a well taken hat-trick.

Davie Robertson’s side took the lead in the 13th minute of the game, having controlled the majority of the proceedings up until that point, when an Iain Vigurs free kick was headflicked over Stevie Dunn, who had came out to claim the ball, by former Cove man Martin Johnston.

Johnston very nearly added a fine second on the half hour mark when he skipped his way into the box and from the postage stamp position attempted to curl one into the top corner however Stevie Dunn pawed the ball around the post to keep Lossie within touching distance.

The closest the visitors came to netting in the first half hour was when Craig Morrison pressured “A Trialist” into close range back header that was nervously collected by Stuart McKenzie at the second attempt. McKenzie then parried a back post header as Martin McMullan and David Hendry rose simultaneously to attack Shaun Noble’s deep corner.

With two minutes to go before the break Elgin made it 2-0 when Martin Johnston was laid in by “B Trialist” and he placed it low across Stevie Dunn who managed to get his fingertips to it but failed to divert it around the post.

Lossie went up to the other end and Graeme Kennedy came within inches of pulling one back when he hooked a Craig Morrison ball into the box over his shoulder but it dropped onto the top of the net, rather than under the bar.

The Borough Briggs side all but sealed their passage into next week’s semi final with a move down the right wing saw Phil Reid find Adam Nelson and when his right footed cross was flicked over Stevie Dunn Paul Napier was well placed at the corner of the 6 yard box to head that ball into the back of the net.

Graeme Kennedy had a great chance to open his account when he charged “A Trialist” off the ball as Adam Nelson’s hooked ball back didn’t find it’s mark. Kennedy was faced with only Stuart McKenzie but the keeper made the block with his feet and the chance was gone.

Martin Johnston completed a classy hat-trick on the hour mark when he skipped through a couple of challenges at the edge of the area before curling a left footer into the top corner of the net.

Elgin were on easy street and they could have went nap when Stevie Dunn had to claw another Martin Johnston effort away for a corner after a low Garry Wood centre was flicked goalwards by the big striker.

“A Trialist” almost made a name for himself with a 20 yard grounder that hit Dunn’s right hand post with the keeper beaten but it spun away off the upright for a goal kick.

Full Time: Elgin City 4 Lossiemouth 0

Elgin City: McKenzie, Cumming, I Vigurs, A Trialist, Dickson, Bremner (Ralph 75), Reid (Wood 60), Nelson, Johnston, B Trialist, Napier (Read 68) Subs: Kelly, Knight

Lossiemouth: Dunn, Noble, Youngson, Smith, Walker, Garrett (L Moir 75), McIntosh (Ellis 61), Hendry (Main 61), McMullan, Morrison, Kennedy Subs: Lasley, N Moir

Ref: D Watt