Close
Locos unbeaten run came to an end against a Keith side who extended their own streak. A first half Gavin Elphinstone brace put the Maroons in control before Myles Gaffney pulled a goal back on the hour mark. The Railwaymen couldn’t get on level terms though, and a missed Paul Coutts penalty and red card for Tam Reid made for a forgettable afternoon at Harlaw Park
Coutts returned to the side having been unavailable last week and there was a welcome return from injury for Sam Burnett, who was named among the substitutes. Neither team had suffered defeat in eight matches going into this game and Locos couldn’t have got off to a worse start. With just two minutes on the clock, Connor Killoh’s cross from the right was nodded home by Elphinstone.
Zack Ellis prevented Elphinstone from adding to the scoreline before Nathan Meres had a couple of chances, first firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box and then being denied by Craig Reid from close range. Just as Locos looked like they might get back into it, Elphinstone did get a second, being fed by Nathan McKeown before applying a good finish to a well worked counter attack.
Meres continued to provide the biggest threat in Fire and Coal but Reid was again equal to his effort, blocking well after the striker had been put through on goal by a mishit Keith pass.
With Locos looking for a way back into the game, Dean Donaldson introduced Blair Smith for the second half. It was a change that almost paid off just a few minutes after the restart as Smith ran at the visiting defence with purpose before being clipped inside the penalty area. Coutts stepped up to take the spot kick but Reid dived low to his right to save.
Locos had certainly showed improvement after the break and got the goal they craved with their best move of the game. Cole Anderson slipped Lloyd Robertson through on goal and when Reid blocked his attempted chip, the ball sat up nicely for Gaffney to volley home.
It felt like game on but the visitors were in obdurate mood and frustrated Locos with a well organised defence and some astute game management. That frustration boiled over with four minutes to play as Reid was provoked I to raising his hand to Liam Duncan. The Keith substitute’s reaction was over the top but a straight red card was inevitable.
Locos certainly created enough chances to get something from this game but can have few complaints about the result, falling short of the standards they have set of late. The visitors took their chances in the first half and defended their lead well after the break.
Locos have no game next week and are next in action on 6th April when they travel to Banff to face Deveronvale where Donaldson will be looking for a reaction from his players.
