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Early goals from Jay Halliday and Josh Bolton secured all three points in Dean Donaldson’s 100th game in charge of the Railwaymen. Liam Harvey capitalised on a late error to score for Lossiemouth, leading to a slightly nervy final few minutes, but Locos held on for a well deserved victory.
Newly arrived Blessing Oluyemi started in goal as Locos looked to extend the gap between themselves and their visitors. Following a minute’s applause to remember former vice-chairman Allan Booth, it was a positive start and the first opening came when Taylor Chapman met Robert Ward’s corner but his header was volleyed clear from the goal line. The opening came in the 18th minute. Daniel Agnew did well on the right had side of the are area and his cut back found its way to Halliday who fired home through several bodies from the edge of the penalty area. Just two minutes later, Bolton doubled the lead, gleefully finishing from close range having been found by Ethan Cairns for his third goal in two games.
For a period, it looked as though Locos might make the points safe before half time as they dominated. They couldn’t find a way past Stuart Knight in the Coasters goal though, the experienced stopper making one particularly good save from Cairns.
Locos continued to have the upper hand after the break but lacked the composure to extend their lead. When they did hit the target, Knight was again equal to it, pulling off good saves to deny Halliday and Harris Clubb. A third goal was beginning to look inevitable and Bradley Chikomo had a golden opportunity to grab it just moments after coming on, only to be thwarted by an excellent last ditch block.
The failure to make the most of their dominance almost came back to bite Locos when Clubb was caught in possession, allowing Harvey to roll the ball into an empty net with Oluyemi scrambling to get back. It was a blot on an otherwise positive afternoon, albeit against a Lossie side who struggled to offer much threat. But for Knight, and a lack of clinical edge from Locos at times, the scoreline would have been more emphatic. Dean Donaldson was pleased with his players though. “I was delighted. I think some of the attacking combinations were outstanding. I think, without being disrespectful to Lossie, we missed a few chances and probably deserved a 3rd, 4th and 5th. Overall, I’m really please with the boys” the manager said. He also to declined to bee too critical of Clubb, saying “Harris tried a Cruyff turn when he just needed to get the ball forward but I’m sure he’ll accept that himself and he just needs to react, but I think that was their only shot on goal so overall we dominated the game”.
Next up for Locos is trip to in-form Keith next Saturday.
