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A late Wallace Duffy goal consigned Locos to defeat at Harlaw Park just as it looked like Paul Coutts’ penalty had secured a hard earned draw. The late drama came after Locos had gone ahead through a first half own goal only to be pegged back almost immediately and fall behind early in the second period.
Coutts’ returned to the team having been unavailable for our last outing at the end of December, and Max Foster, whose arrival from Turriff United was announced before kick off, was named on the bench for the first game of the new year.
The visitors, who knew that victory would lift them to the top of the Breedon Highland League table, started on the front foot without troubling Zack Ellis. The Railwaymen grew into the game but clear chances remained scarce at both ends.
Brora did come close ten minutes before the break as a Connor Bunce header clipped the top of the crossbar. The deadlock was broken in the 38th minute though, when Milosz Ochmanski’s low cross from the left was turned into his own net by the Cattachs skipper Michael Finnis. The visitors were level just a couple of minutes later though as Bunce rose highest to head Tony Dingwall’s free kick past Ellis.
Early in the second half, Shane Sutherland got behind the Locos defence but could only drag his shot wide. The reprieve was short lived however, as they fell behind on 57 minutes. Craig MacKenzie’s free kick from the left went beyond the far post where Sutherland pulled it back for Mark Nicolson to finish from close range.
Locos went looking for a leveller. Cammy Mackay in the Brora goal had to be quick off his line to thwart Cole Anderson. When the goal did come it was from the spot, with Coutts’ making no mistake after Gary Pullen had caught Calum Dingwall as he prepared to shoot.
A point seemed like fair reward for Locos’ performance against a team who will undoubtedly be challenging for the title. It wasn’t to be though as Duffy’s left footed shot from the edge of the box, following another free kick, beat Ellis.
Dean Donaldson was happy with his team’s performance but disappointed with the nature of the goals conceded. “Overall I’m pleased with the performance. It’s probably that youthfulness that’s seen us lose the game and them win the game with their experience” he said, “We need to defend set pieces much better. Every set piece they got, and they got a lot, we defended pretty poorly.” Dean will be hoping for more solidity next week when we take on Forres Mechanics at Mossett Park.
