Close
Paul Coutts scored the only goal of the game before being sent off as Locos edged past Keith at Harlaw Park. The game was settled by Coutts from the penalty spot 16 minutes into the game after Jack McKenzie was fouled. Ten minutes from time the captain was dismissed for two yellow cards picked up in the same incident.
Max Foster and Daniel Agnew were added to the lengthy injury list this week with Stewart Gray and Ethan Cairns replacing them in the starting lineup and Mark Souter reverting to his more familiar defensive role. Following an impeccably observed minutes silence in honour of Club Chairman Harold Petrie, killed 30 years ago, it was Locos who had the first opportunity as Robert Ward shot wide having been teed up by Gray. The goal came when Cairns found Gray in the penalty area after a surging run down the left. He in turn found McKenzie who was bundled over clumsily by Conor Bird. Craig Reid in the Maroons goal has something of a reputation when it comes to saving penalties, but Coutts made no mistake to net his first goal of the season.
Locos have made a habit of conceding immediately after taking the lead this season but, despite responding well to the set back, Keith didn’t threaten until shortly before the half hour mark when Liam Duncan should have scored. The striker was played through on goal by Jordan Cooper but, after getting himself into a good position, fired against the upright. Both teams were getting themselves into promising positions only for the final ball to let them down. Gray created a chance for himself, winning the ball from Bird before driving into the area. With Reid out quickly to meet him, he could only slip the ball wide of the post.
Gray had another chance early in the second half when McKenzie’s cross from the right was headed back across goal by Ward but he couldn’t react quickly enough. The game was open with both sides crying out for a clinical finisher. McKenzie’s effort was comfortably saved by Reid, while Locos dealt with a number of threatening balls coming into the box. When Coutts clipped Zak To as the Aberdeen loanee looked to break away, the referee had his yellow card out of his pocket before the Locos skipper kicked the ball away, prompting a second booking. The task was simple now; maintain the lead.
As expected, Keith threw everything at Locos, including goalkeeper Reid, who was sent forward for several set pieces. Locos held on though, with one huge scare when Taylor Chapman headed To’s free kick onto his own crossbar.
This was no great spectacle, and Locos rode their luck at times, but Dean Donaldson was delighted to take maximum points. “A month or so ago we’d probably have lost the game. I don’t think we played particularly well, but I don’t think Keith did either. It was a physical battle and Keith are quite good at that” the manager said. “They were pressing high so we were going long and we weren’t winning first or second balls. It’s something we’ll need to look at, but I’ll take a win like that every day of the week.”
Following successive wins and clean sheets, Locos will be looking to keep the run going when Sauchie Juniors visit Harlaw Park for the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup first round tie next week.
