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Locos were undone by 3 goals in 17 second half minutes by high-flying Clachnacuddin at Grant Street Park. Other than that spell, the Railwaymen will feel that they matched their opponents and will be aggrieved at the penalty that allowed the hosts to level.
With Zack Ellis suffering from illness, Kyle Irvine took his place in goal. Paul Coutts and Callum Duncan returned to the starting lineup and there was also a first start for Aberdeen loanee Bradley Chikomo.
After a cagey start, Locos began to assert a bit of pressure. Duncan’s effort was well blocked but he opened the scoring from the resultant corner. The ball was only half cleared and found it’s way to him via Lloyd Robertson, and he blasted home from 12 yards with 27 minutes on the clock.
Locos largely controlled the remainder of the first half as the chances that Clach had been creating dried up. The Lilywhites were handed a route back into the game six minutes after the break. There was a bit of a stramash in the box following a corner and nothing seemed untoward when Mark Souter cleared behind. Home skipper Harry Nicolson went down though, there was an appeal and the referee responded by pointing to the spot.
James Anderson made no mistake with the penalty kick and Clach made the most of their break, taking firm control of the game and looking a threat every time they can forward. Anderson doubled his tally, firing home the rebound after Irvine had initially made a good stop. At this point, a third goal seemed inevitable and it duly arrived courtesy of Kuba Leszczynski, who finished off the inside of the left hand upright after Troy Cooper had nodded the ball into his path.
It seemed a long way back for Locos but they stuck to their task and once again the game evened up. With 10 minutes to go, Jack Davison was booked for a foul on Souter as he surged forward. Having been booked in the first half, Davison must have been relieved and surprised not to have also seen red. Eventually, however, the referee realised his error and Davison was duly dismissed.
With Locos chasing the game, the hosts were still getting opportunities at the other end and Irvine had to produce a top save to deny Craig Lawrie. Locos had a penalty shout of their own when Fergus Adams appeared to kick Jay Halliday as he attempted to clear. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Josh Bolton grabbed his first goal of the season, turning home Jack McKenzie’s shot following a corner.
There was no time to find a leveller though, and Locos left Inverness with nothing. The fixtures don’t get any easier as we host Breedon Highland League leaders Formartine United at Harlaw Park next week.
