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Locos held on to third place in the Breedon Highland League with an assured performance at Kynoch Park. A brace from Aidan Wilson either side of a Jay Halliday strike secured victory with the minimum of fuss.
With Paul Coutts, Mark Souter and Nathan Meres all unavailable, Dean Donaldson was forced into changes from the team that beat Lossiemouth on Wednesday night. His players didn’t break stride though, as Wilson gave them an early lead with a cheeky back heel from Cole Anderson’s cut back.
Wilson and Blair Smith both headed off target before Anderson was again the provider shortly after the half hour mark. Wilson’s excellent pass found Anderson in the inside right channel and his ball across goal was tapped home by Halliday from six yards. Locos were threatening to run away with it as Wilson’s low free kick was deflected narrowly wide of the post on the brink of half-time.
Locos continued to dominate after the break without testing Craig Reid until Wilson got his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot. As he tried to get on the end of Callum Duncan’s teasing cross, the striker was pulled down by Scott Barron. He got to his feet and put his spot kick low to the right of Reid, who guessed correctly but couldn’t keep it out. Before the hosts restarted, a small piece of Locos history was made as Cole Donaldson was introduced to become the first player – in the senior era at least – to represent the club under the management of his father.
With the game out of their reach, the hosts enjoyed their best moments as an attacking force. Zack Ellis blocked Ronan Craib’s effort before Horace Ormsby’s low strike came back off the upright. At the other end, both Rueben Skea and Daniel Agnew went close with efforts from outside the penalty area.
Locos didn’t quite hit the heights of some of their recent displays but nevertheless played some excellent football at times, and the result was never really in doubt. Donaldson will be pleased that the forced changes didn’t disrupt their form. This result sets the Railwaymen up nicely for next Saturday’s trip to Fife to take on Dundonald Bluebell in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.
