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Locos exited the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup at the hands of Dundee North End at Harlaw Park. After Jay Halliday’s opener had been cancelled out by Frankie Devine’s free kick in the first half, the Railwaymen dominated for large spells after the break but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Two quickfire goals in the opening period of extra time saw the visitors progress.
Louis Amann made his first competitive start in the absence of Zack Ellis, who picked up an injury at Fraserburgh last week. There was a starting place too for Logan Johnstone in his final game before relocating to Australia.
In windy conditions, both teams took time to settle but Locos began to enjoy some possession and took the lead on 17 minutes. Visiting keeper Grant Adam couldn’t hold Aidan Wilson’s low drive from the edge of the penalty area and Halliday was quickest to react and forced the ball home.
North End levelled just after the half hour mark. It was a free kick of real quality, and was probably a fair reflection of the game at that point, but there was an element of controversy to the goal. The ball clearly moved as Devine stepped up to take the set piece, which he fired into the top corner. Locos protested but the officials had seen nothing untoward and the goal stood.
In the second half, with the wind at their backs, Locos had the bulk of the attacking play and for much of the half it felt like a second Locos goal was coming. Cole Anderson’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked and deflected narrowly over the crossbar before Nathan Meres tried to take advantage when Adam could only parry Anderson’s effort. Some excellent defending saw his shot smothered though.
Some neat play between Meres and Daniel Agnew down the left saw the latter break into the area and many in Harlaw Park thought his shot was net bound, only to see it clip the far post. Anderson then had a similar opportunity, putting the ball just the wrong side of the upright.
With Locos failing to make the most of their chances, the visitors sensed an opportunity and showed more attacking intent towards the end of normal time. That positivity continued into the additional period and they took the lead 9 minutes in. Devine’s corner was met first time by substitute Jaden Ferguson and the ball crept inside the post.
Just a couple of minutes later, fellow sub Cameron Blacklock dealt the fatal blow to Locos cup run, finishing from close range after Amann had done well to tip Devine’s effort onto the bar. Locos tried to get back into the game, and certainly put North End under pressure, but the visiting defence held firm to secure their place in the third round.
This was always going to be a tough tie but Locos will feel they had the opportunities to win in regulation time. In many ways it was a typical cup tie, scrappy at times but with some good football on show too.
Dean Donaldson was frustrated that his team couldn’t make the most of their opportunities and is looking for more conviction in front of goal. “We created enough chances in the 90 minutes to win the game. We’re snatching at things, more hopeful than wanting to get the ball in the net. We need more arrogance” he said.
Goalscorer Halliday shared his manager’s frustration. “In the second half we didn’t take advantage of playing down the hill with the wind at our backs. We should have made more of it, but it’s one of those days where it didn’t go for us. We had plenty of chances, but we couldn’t find the end product”
It’s another home game for Locos next week, as we return to Highland League action against Huntly.
