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The opening game of the season couldn’t have gone much worse for Locos as they were well beaten by Clachnacuddin. By contrast, even a late red card for goalkeeper Mark Ridgers didn’t spoil the party for the visitors.
Ridgers was dismissed in the closing moments after rushing well out of his penalty area before saving Ethan Cairns’ attempt to loft the ball over him, but the game was long since settled.
With Greg Mitchell, Cole Anderson and Zack Ellis all out with long term injuries, Dean Donaldson handed starts to four summer arrivals, including the returning Robert Ward.
In humid conditions, the game started slowly. James Anderson fired just off target for Clach and Callum Duncan volleyed over the bar before Cairns stung the palms of Ridgers with a fierce drive. There was little to choose between the two teams but the Lilywhites would certainly have been the happier at half time, looking sharper than the Railwaymen.
With all to play for in the second half, Clachnacuddin took a firm grip on the game with early goals. The first came from Greg Morrison four minutes into the half as his header from a corner looped over a gaggle of bodies and beyond Aberdeen loanee Conner Douglas. Six minutes later, captain Anderson doubled the lead. Locos were adamant the ball had gone out play but the visitors recycled it and Anderson swivelled before volleying home off the underside of the bar.
Locos tried to get themselves back into the game but, despite positive approach play at times, were unable to carve out any clear opportunities against a well organised Clach team. Any lingering hope of a comeback was firmly extinguished 15 minutes from time when Kuba Leszczynski added a third just a couple of minutes after Douglas had to scramble to prevent a Thomas Reid back pass crossing the line. Douglas saved Andrew Macrae’s shot from distance but Leszczynski was quickest to react. It was a similar story for the final goal, with Macrae the beneficiary after, Fergus Adams had hit the fourth.
This was a disappointing performance and result, particularly at the start of the season when hope and expectation are high. Dean Donaldson felt Clachnacuddin were hungrier than his players, who were second best all over the pitch “We lost goals that I’ve never lost as a manager and I’ve never seen our back line get penetrated so much.” The gaffer won’t be pressing the panic button, highlighting how well the team have played since his arrival at the club, but will be looking for an immediate improvement against Formartine United at North Lodge Park on Wednesday.
