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Locos came through a tight tie against an Aberdeen development side to reach the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup Final next month. Myles Gaffney swiftly restored parity after Alfie Bavidge had put the Dons ahead in the first half. Nathan Meres completed the turnaround after the break to set up a showdown with Buckie Thistle.
Dean Donaldson was absent from the dugout but the large crowd inside Harlaw Park saw a cagey opening 20 minutes before the young Dons team began to threaten down the flanks. A couple of dangerous balls across the box had gone unrewarded before Bavidge opened the scoring on the half hour. Goalkeeper Tom Ritchie fed Adam Emslie who in turn picked out Bavidge in the area. He touched the ball past Paul Coutts before firing home.
Aberdeen had an immediate opportunity to double their lead following good play between Alfie Stewart and Bavidge. The latter’s low cross was only cleared as far as Brendan Hamilton who took aim from outside the box but could only drive wide.
Locos levelled just a few minutes later. Meres played in Jay Halliday who was forced wide. He got a shot away though, that struck the base of the upright, falling nicely for Gaffney who took a touch before slotting home. Locos finished the half strongly. Gaffney, who was full of running all night, closed down a Ritchie clearance but was beaten to the loose ball by Finlay Murray. Shortly before the break, Cole Anderson tried his luck from 20 yards but curled his effort over the bar.
The Railwaymen started the second half on the front foot. Gaffney stung the palms of Ritchie shortly before the hour mark but less than a minute later, Locos took the lead. Meres took advantage of a defensive slip before creating a bit of space and firing low past Ritchie and into the corner. Meres was having an excellent game and had an opportunity to score a second but couldn’t quite connect cleanly from ten yards and Ritchie was able to gather comfortably. He then came close to providing an assist with a delightful back heel to put Gaffney through on goal. The striker poked the ball past Ritchie but just wide of the post.
The visitors tried to exert some pressure in the latter stages as they looked to earn themselves a penalty shoot out but the closest they came was a Bavidge header in the final minute of normal time that Ellis gratefully grasped.
Details of the final have yet to be confirmed but it is a game that Locos will look forward to with confidence after another impressive performance. Following an even first half, the Railwaymen took the game to their opponents after the break and fully deserved their victory.
