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Lewis Pirie scored the only goal of the game as Locos climbed to second in the Breedon Highland League table with victory over Clachnacuddin at Harlaw Park. The Railwaymen had to do a lot of defending in the latter stages of the game as the visitors probed for an equaliser, but they did so superbly.
Jay Halliday made his first start of the season but Josh Buchan and Blair Smith were both ruled out by injury. Locos started the game full of energy, and created several opportunities in the opening quarter of an hour. Ethan Cairns found Cole Donaldson behind the visiting defence but his shot from an angle was just the wrong side of the post. Daniel Agnew’s effort fron the edge of the box was then tipped over the bar by Mark Ridgers who was again relieved to see an Oliver Green strike go across goal and wide.
The game was being played at quite a pace and Zack Ellis was at full stretch to keep out a Craig Lawrie shot. Locos continued to have the upper hand as the game settled a little and Agnew again brought a good save from Ridgers. It felt like a Locos goal was coming and it arrived a couple of minutes before the break. After a good move down the right, Cairns fed Pirie who curled a fine strike beyond Ridgers.
Clachnacuddin came out for the second half looking determined to get back into the game. They enjoyed periods of dominance but Locos were resolute and, although he had a number of crosses to deal with, Ellis was well protected by his defence. The visitors’ best opportunity for a leveller came 20 minutes from time when Troy Copper headed wide when well placed. At the other end, Ridgers kept out a Callum Duncan strike while substitues Nathan Meres and Rory Butchart both fired wide. The Lilywhites piled on the pressure in the closing minutes but Locos held out for an excellent victory.
Dean Donaldson will be delighted by this performance as his players found the attacking fluidity that had eluded them on Saturday, before defending superbly as Clach chased the game. Locos now head into three tough away fixtures, starting at Huntly on Saturday.
