Close
Locos maintained their 100% home record with a third consecutive four goal haul at Harlaw Park. The result never seemed in doubt from the moment Aidan Wilson opened the scoring with just over a quarter of an hour played. Nathan Meres doubled the lead before a Paul Coutts penalty and Callum Duncan strike after the break secured a comprehensive victory.
Thomas Reid, Blair Smith and Wilson all returned to Dean Donaldson’s starting lineup and Locos started the game brightly, taking the lead on 16 minutes. Calum Dingwall got into a good position on the left of the box and his low cross was met by Wilson, who fired first time into the top corner. Meres was next to threaten but Stuart Knight was able to keep hold of his snap shot. He wasn’t to be denied though as he doubled Locos’ lead a few minutes later. Cole Anderson showed determination to win the ball before slipping it to Meres who fired home off the underside of the bar. The Railwaymen were keeping the visiting defence busy and Wilson’s effort from the edge of the box was deflected narrowly wide of Knight’s right hand upright.
Locos continued to dominate after the break but the Coasters were able to keep things tighter at the back until fresh legs introduced by Donaldson added the impetus he would have hoped for. Daniel Agnew was a constant threat down the left hand side but it was Duncan who had the most notable impact. Just a couple of minutes after being introduced, he was brought down by Knight, with the referee showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
The last time Knight had faced a penalty against Locos, it was Mark Souter’s decisive spot kick in the Aberdeenshire Cup Final in April. When Coutts stepped up, the end result was the same as he calmly slotted home. Locos pressed for a fourth and it arrived when Duncan got on the scoresheet himself in the closing moments, finishing smartly from outside the penalty area.
Another comprehensive win will please Donaldson, who will perhaps think his team should have had more to show for their dominance in the opening 45 minutes. Lossiemouth improved after the break, showing more solidity in defence and carrying more of an attacking threat without troubling Zack Ellis. The changes undoubtedly gave Locos fresh momentum though, and they finished the game strongly.
Next up for the Railwaymen is a trip to face Keith at Kynoch Park on Saturday before travelling to Fife for the Scottish Cup first round tie against Dundonald Bluebell the following Saturday.
