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Goals from Ethan Cairns and Daniel Agnew helped Locos to three points at Harlaw Parked as their fine form continues. Cairns’ brace takes his tally for the season to 7, matching his Breedon Highland League total of last season.
Dean Donaldson named an unchanged team from that one that secured an impressive point at Brora Rangers last week and his players clearly took the confidence gained from that match into this encounter. The Railwaymen quickly got into their rhythm and Cairns, Agnew, Cole Anderson and Cole Donaldson were giving the visiting defence a torrid time. Anderson threatened to open the scoring but Stuart Knight got two strong hands to his curling effort. Cairns was next to threaten as his shot on the turn was just too high. Lossie’s first effort came when skipper James Leslie header a free kick into the arms of Zack Ellis.
It felt like a goal for Locos wasn’t far off, and it arrive from the penalty spot midway through the half. Donaldson played a ball for Anderson to chase and Knight’s clumsy effort to beat him to the ball gave the referee a fairly straightforward decision. Cairns dispatched the spot kick, beating the keeper for power. Locos continued to make most of the running. Callum Duncan’s low shot was deflected just past the post, saw his half-volley fly over and came even closer when Kight reacted to superbly to get a finger tip to his close range shot after good work by Anderson. Lossiemouth stood firm though, and showed enough attacking intent in the latter stages of the half to leave Locos in no doubt that they still had work to do.
Victory took a step closer early in the second half when Cairns added his second. Anderson showed strength to win the ball near the byline before squaru=ing for Cairns to finish. Knight again showed great reactions to deny Agnew as Locos threatened to run away with the game. Agnew would get the third though, as Locos broke following a Lossie corner. Duncan found Agnew in space and he raced into the area before calmly slotiing inside the far post.
Owen Loveland pulled a goal back for the away side with 10 minutes remaining, taking advantage of a lapse in concentration to get on the end of a long ball forward and finish smartly passed Ellis. There was to be no late comeback though, and Nathan Meres went close to restablishing the three goal advantage.
This was another good performance from Locos, with some excellent attacking play, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. Donaldson was please with his team’s performance. “Our intensity was good, we had good movement and link-up and scored some good goals” “They’re working really hard” he continued “obviously getting the boys back from injury has really helped us and the new additions, Greig McNaughton, Paul Campbell and Cole Donaldson have been differnt class”. The was disappointed with the goal conceded though, “It’s communication and taking their foot off the gas. Big Zack didn’t deserve to los a goal today”.
Locos are in Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup action in midweek against Formartine United at North Lodge Park.
