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Locos secured a first win of the season with an impressive display against Rothes at Harlaw Park. Early goals from Callum Duncan and Daniel Agnew set the tone, before Agnew added another late on and young loanee Bradley Chikomo headed his first goal for the club in stoppage time.
There was positivity following an excellent second half showing at Fraserburgh last week, but Locos knew they would need a fast start in what was an encounter between the bottom two teams in the league at kick off. A fast start is exactly what the Railwaymen delivered, starting on the front foot and forcing the visitors back from the outset. The game was only four minutes old when Duncan fired home from the edge of the penalty area but they had already had enough of the ball in the final third to suggest it had been coming.
Locos continued to push and Agnew doubled the lead 5 minutes later. His strike, driving into the roof of the net after Duncan hadn’t got full contact on his near post header, left things looking ominous for the visitors, such was Locos dominance. That dominance continued but the Speysiders gradually worked their way into the game. Although they struggled to test Conner Douglas, Rory Williamson’s looped effort came back off the bar. Locos were threatening a third though. Ethan Cairns flashed wide after the visiting defence had block a couple of efforts and it was Locos who then hit the woodwork as visiting captain Andrew Skinner was relieved to see his intervention clip his own bar with Stewart Black beaten. Robert Ward flung himself at Reuben Skea’s right wing cross but couldn’t get enough contact to put his header on target as Locos looked to extend their lead further.
Early in the second half, Ward reached the ball before Black on the edge of the area but his effort from a tight angle was put behind by Brodie Mitchell. Rothes then enjoyed their best spell of the match and Ruairi Duncan had a golden opportunity to get his side back into the game. With just Douglas to beat, Duncan dragged his shot wide. As he did so, Douglas and Paul Coutts collided and there was real concern for the young goalkeeper. Thankfully, he was able to walk from the park but was unable to continue and Louis Amann took his place.
If the fans inside Harlaw Park were concerned that the change between the sticks would have a disruptive effect, they needn’t have worried as Locos finished the game strongly. Jack McKenzie shot tamely at Black before Agnew put the game firmly to bed, firing low into the corner from 20 yards. Black saved well with his legs from Duncan and denied Agnew a hat-trick with a fingertip save. The fourth goal did come a minute into added time. Blair Smith delivered an excellent cross following a quickly taken free kick and, although Black clawed Harry Woods’ header away, Chikomo had the simplest of tasks to nod home.
Rothes are a young side who have been struggling but Locos too, are currently fielding an inexperienced team due to injuries to senior players, so this was a very welcome result. It was a strong performance and Locos could, perhaps, have scored more goals. Dean Donaldson certainly felt opportunities were missed. “The early goals settled us and then we proceeded to miss so many chances” the gaffer said. “I know we’re creating them but we should be putting away a couple more.” He was pleased, though, with the resilience shown in the light of recent fixtures. “It’s good that we didn’t switch off and that we kept a clean sheet”.
Locos have a chance to build on this result at home again next week when Wick Academy visit Harlaw Park.
