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Locos and Formartine played out a goalless draw at Harlaw Park. Despite the scoreline, this was an engaging encounter, a real battle with a point apiece probably a fair reflection of the game.
Zack Ellis got the go-ahead after illness and Josh Bolton was handed a start after his goal last week. There was plenty of endeavour from both teams but little in the way of goal chances in the opening stages. Locos did have the ball in the net midway through the first half when Bolton tapped home after Stuart McKenzie had spilled a Paul Coutts cross, but the referee blew the whistle for a foul on the keeper.
The visitors were then awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area but the set piece was blocked with Marc Lawrence blasting over from the follow up. Lloyd Robertson’s effort was too close to McKenzie and Bolton couldn’t keep his shot down from the edge of the box leaving the game nicely poised at the break.
With Locos having dominated possession in the first half, it was the visitors who saw more of the ball in the second, delivering a number of dangerous balls into the box. Ellis was largely untroubled though, as was McKenzie at the other end, who saved routinely from Bolton at the end of a good Locos move.
It was left until added time for some real drama to unfold. Firstly, Ellis produced a superb save to keep out Glenn Murison’s close range header. Locos than had what looked like a strong case for a penalty as Robert Ward appeared to be hauled down as he looked to get on end of Bradley Chikomo’s low delivery. Immediately afterwards, the Railwaymen were reduced to 10 men as Jay Halliday picked up his second yellow card after tripping McKenzie.
Clear cut chances were at a premium in this game but it was hard fought in biting wind and, at times, icy rain. Both teams will feel they could have taken maximum points on another day but will probably feel that a draw is a fair result.
Dean Donaldson was pleased with his players’ efforts and felt that they reached a standard that they haven’t often achieved this season. “I thought it was a good game of Highland League football. We had three good chances in the first half and limited them to very little. In the second half, they pinned us back for long spells but I thought we defended excellently” the manager said. “To keep a clean sheet and create a few chances against a top team who are going for the league, we have to be happy with a point.”
Thoughts now turn to the R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup quarter final against Turriff United at The Haughs next week.
