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Bradley Chikomo’s late goal gave Locos a share of the spoils at Princess Royal Park. A point was no more than the Railwaymen deserved from the game but for long spells in the second half it looked like they would leave Banff empty handed. Second half goals from Jack Mitchell and Ryan Park had turned the game around after Milosz Ochmanski’s early goal.
With Callum Duncan suspended, Max Foster injured and Paul Coutts also struggling for fitness, Jack McKenzie, Taylor Chapman and Blair Smith came into the team. Robert Ward also started having been used as a substitute in midweek.
Locos started on the front foot and Ethan Cairns had already had a goal ruled out for offside before he cut the ball back for Ochmanski to sweep home after 10 minutes. Locos continued to impress without really threatening to extend their lead. Smith and Jay Halliday were just off target from outside the box, while at the other end Zack Ellis saved comfortably from Alexsander Dlugosz. Locos hearts were in mouths when an undrhit Josh Buchan pass left Ellis in a race to get to the ball against Fergus Alberts. The former Railwayman went to ground but the referee felt he had gone down too easily.
Locos were well worth their half time lead but will feel they should have had more to show for their dominance, something they did indeed come to regret in the second half. There was more determination about the hosts after the break and the got back on level terms early. There was a touch of misfortune from a Locos perspective as Ochmanski slipped when he looked in a good position to cut out Dem Yunus’ cross field pass to Mitchell. The striker made no mistake firing a low, crisp effort past Ellis.
Vale had their tails up and were enjoying their best spell of the game. Player-Manager Garry Wood curled an effort just off target before they got themselves in front when Park applied a clever header to Mitchell’s cross from the left. Locos toiled to get back into the game but only began to threaten in the final ten minutes as they injected some urgency. Sean McIntosh saved well from Chikomo and the points looked to be staying in Banff when Mark Souter hit the bar from six yards before the young Aberdeen loanee’s intervention.
Both teams looked for a winner in the final moments with Cameron Angus having the best opportunity, finding himself facing Ellis from 12 yards. There was a suspicion of offside and this perhaps played on his mind as he hesitated before putting his shot too close to the keeper. In the end both teams had to settle for a point, which is probably a fair reflection of the game.
Locos are on the road again next week as they visit in-form Clachnacuddin.
