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Locos snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup against Lochee United. The Railwaymen were good value for their two goal lead, and could have scored more, but two late penalties and a header saw them exit the national competition.
The signs weren’t good before kick off with Ethan Cairns, Zack Ellis, Cole Donaldson and Nathan Meres all missing through injury. Locos started the game brightly though, although neither side was able to create much in the way of clear opportunities.
The deadlock was broken just after the midway point of the first half when a ball into the box came off home skipper Louis Joyce’s arm. Cole Anderson made no mistake from the spot, finishing low to the goalkeeper’s left. Ten minutes later, Jay Halliday came close to doubling the lead when his strike came back off the post while keeper Lewis Haldane could only watch on.
Locos had the best of the play in the first half but with a slim lead, the game felt very much in the balance. United came out on the front foot after the break but Locos soon took control and began to dominate.
Halliday fired over the bar from the edge of the box after Anderson and Daniel Agnew had caused chaos in the home defence and a second Locos goal was looking inevitable. It came in the 61st minute. Determined play on the right saw Oliver Green get to the byline before cutting back for Anderson to roll home.
Callum Duncan struck the base of the post and Blair Smith forced a save from Haldane as Locos looked to press home their advantage. It looked as though they would see the game out. Blessing Oluyemi hadn’t quite been a spectator but he had not really been tested before making a superb save to tip a header over the bar in the 82nd minute. Three minutes later, the hosts got themselves back in the game as Finlay Allan acored a penalty after a Milosz Ochmanski triop.
Just two minutes later, the score was levelled with Allan’s second penalty with Taylor Chapman aggrieved to have been penalised on the byline after he felt the ball had gone out of play. With extra time looming, the turnaround was complete with a close range Ross Fraser header from a stoppage time corner.
This defeat will hurt Dean Donaldson and his players, who will know that they should be looking forward to the second round draw. It will be a particular disappointment that Lochee didn’t have to do anything special to turn the game around, taking full advantage after getting back into the game so late.
There will be an immediate opportunity to brighten the mood on Wednesday when Invergordon visit Harlaw Park for a first ever encounter between the two clubs.
