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Locos fell to defeat at Spain Park in the only Highland League fixture to beat the weather. The Railwaymen were undone by one early and two late goals in an otherwise tight game.
Captain Greg Mitchell and Milosz Ochmanski were both missing through injury and Myles Gaffney came back into the starting lineup. After Jay Halliday had gone close with a volley from the edge of the penalty area, Hamish Macleod gave Dee the lead on 7 minutes. Brother Lachlan picked him out and he prodded past Blessing Oluyemni in the hosts’ first meaningful attack of the game.
Locos worked hard to get back into the game but chances were at a premium at both ends until late in the half. Daniel Hoban got down well to save a low Gaffney effort shortly before Oluyemi tipped a Michael Philipson free kick around the post at full stretch.
After the break, Locos began to dominate possession as they searched for a leveller. The home side were solid in protecting their lead though, keeping Halliday and Cola Anderson – who have been so influential of late – fairly quiet. Nathan Meres was once again Locos biggest threat in attack and he found Gaffney on the edge of the box six minutes into the half but his shot was blocked by Hoban.
After Chris Antaniozzi had fired narrowly wide, Meres himself was next to test Hoban, who beat his shot away at the near post after he had carried the ball from the half way line. A few minutes later, Meres went even closer to finding an equaliser. With the keeper out of goal, his effort from the edge of the box was kept out by Ramsay Davidson who had dropped back to cover on the line.
Meres then had a shot well blocked by Alasdair Stark before Max Alexander secured the points for the Aberdeen outfit with 5 minutes remaining. The substitute seizing on a missed kick by Oluyemi before slotting home from close range. Locos continued to look for a breakthrough before Antaniozzi added a third from just inside the box deep into stoppage time.
Nobody inside the ground would deny that the scoreline was harsh on Locos. They dominated possession and got themselves into some good position but will be frustrated that they could not show the same clinical instinct as their hosts. There will be concern too after Mark Souter picked up a nasty looking injury after being caught late.
Dyce visit Harlaw Park in the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup on Wednesday before we welcome Nairn County next Saturday.
