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Locos secured a well earned draw at Breedon Highland League champions Brora Rangers, and may well feel they could have come away with all three points. The result caps a week in which The Railwaymen beat Strathspey and Fraserburgh to remain unbeaten since the opening day of the season.
Dean Donaldson made just one change from the team that beat The Broch in midweek, with Rory Butchart coming in for the injured Lloyd Robertson. The game started at a frantic pace before settling into a rhythm. Both teams showed attacking intent but clear chances were hard to come by.
The closest either side came to making a breakthrough in the first half came in added time as Callum Duncan’s strike from the edge of the box hit Cammy Mackay’s right hand upright.
Locos went close again in the opening minutes of the second half. Cole Donaldson showed a burst of pace to reach the ball at the byline. His cross was headed towards goal by Nathan Meres with Mackay tipping it over the bar at full stretch. Locos were enjoying territorial advantage and causing The Cattachs problems. Dan Agnew’s fierce half volley from 20 yards was just too high. With 23 goals in their 6 previous matches though, the hosts remained a threat and Zack Ellis saved well from James Wallace.
With 13 minutes remaining, the home side were reduced to 10 men. Ross Draper, booked earlier in the half for a foul on Duncan, was shown a second yellow card after catching Robert Ward with a flailing arm. Keen to preserve a point, Brora sat deep and invited Locos onto them. Despite their best efforts, The Railwaymen couldn’t break them down, Blair Smith’s header that clipped the bar and another good same from Mackay to deny Agnew being as close as they came. In the closing moments, the hosts mounted a final attacking spell, winning successive corners. Ellis was needed again to keep out a Shane Sutherland effort, but there was to be no late drama.
Ultimately, Locos will know that not many teams will take anything from Dudgeon Park but there was also a sense of frustration from the players who felt they had edged the game, even before the red card. Nevertheless, this was an excellent result and continues their good form. They will be looking for that keep that at Harlaw Park next week against a Lossiemouth team who have made a very strong start to the season.
