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Aidan Wilson’s penalty gave Locos all three points at Mosset Park. Wilson’s unstoppable spot kick on the hour mark settled a game of few chances that also saw the hosts reduced to 10 men in stoppage time, as Ryan McRitchie received a second yellow card for an altercation with Mark Souter.
Wilson, Josh Buchan and Lloyd Robertson all came into the starting eleven having missed out last week and it was Locos who were the brighter of the two sides in the opening stages. The game was fifteen minutes old before there was a clear sight of goal, Cole Anderson’s flick from Milosz Ochmanski’s cross going just the wrong side of the post. The two players were involved again as Anderson couldn’t keep his effort down after Ochmanksi’s ball into the box wasn’t dealt with.
Locos were dominating possession and the Can Can’s were relying on quick breaks forward. They did this well on occasion but Zack Ellis had little to do throughout the first half. At the other end, Souter brought a save from Corey Patterson from distance and Daniel Agnew fired just off target from slightly closer to goal. In the closing stages of the half, Agnew found Callum Duncan with an excellent pass but his shot didn’t have enough power to trouble Patterson.
The second half continued in much the same vein and Locos made the breakthrough with 60 minutes on the clock. Patterson saved well from Wilson but as Robertson reached the loose ball, he was caught late by a lunging Jack Grant challenge. The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and Wilson fired home confidently to the keeper’s right.
Having fallen behind, Forres had to force matters and they saw a little more of the ball. Ellis and his defence were having to deal with some dangerous balls into the box but Locos remained a threat. Substitute Blair Smith had an opportunity to seal victory as he raced onto an Anderson clearance but Patterson read the situation well to clear. The hosts finally tested Ellis with 6 minutes remaining but he was able to hold Matt Jamieson’s well struck shot.
With time fast running out, Souter and McRitchie tangled in the box with the latter’s reaction earning him his second booking of the game, having earlier been cautioned for dissent. That was just about the last action of the game as the Railwaymen held on for an important away win.
Dean Donaldson will be happy that his team came away from this tricky fixture with a victory, but may well feel that they should have had more to show for their efforts. Another difficult test awaits next week as Formartine United visit Harlaw Park.
