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Locos maintained their 100% home record with another excellent display in the Garioch sunshine. Goals from Blair Smith and Daniel Agnew in a dominant first half had the Railwaymen in control at the break but Shaun Sutherland gave Forres hope early in the second half. Locos worked hard though and once again took control of the game as Nathan Meres and Reuben Skea netted.
Smith came in for the suspended Jay Halliday but otherwise Dean Donaldson selected the same players who started at Brora Rangers last week. That was where the similarities to the game at Dudgeon Park ended as Locos started like they were determined to put that defeat behind them. The Can Cans were struggling to deal with the pace and precision of Locos passing and their resistance was broken on 12 minutes. Cole Anderson picked the ball up in a central position and he found Smith, who still had work to do as he created space to drill a low shot beyond Corey Patterson.
After a break in play mid-way through the half to allow players and officials to rehydrate – not something that happens often in the Highland League – the lead was doubled and Anderson was once again the provider. His low cross from the right was perfect for Agnew to tap home from close range. Locos went looking for more goals to reflect their dominance. Patterson saved Agnew’s fierce drive before Mark Souter sent a left footed shot just the wrong side of the post.
After an early second half penalty claim from Locos, the visitors got themselves back into the game. Locos will be disappointed that the ball found it’s way to Sutherland, who made no mistake from six yards. The goal came out of the blue and changed the complexion of the game as it became a more even and open affair. Forres didn’t really threaten a leveller though, and when substitute Meres headed home at the back post from a Logan Johnstone cross, Locos once again bossed the game.
Patterson denied Zane Laird a first goal for the club with his first touch after coming off the bench but the visiting keeper couldn’t prevent Skea opening his Locos account with 10 minutes remaining. He got down well to keep out a Meres effort but could only divert the ball into the path of the youngster, who gleefully fired home.
There was no let-up from Locos, who thought they had a fifth when Meres tapped home after Patterson had failed to gather a cross from the left. The referee, however, ruled that the goalkeeper had been fouled by Mark Souter, a decision that appeared to surprise even Patterson himself. The keeper still had work to do as he kept out Meres’ attempted lob at full stretch as full-time approached.
This was another performance that enthralled a good-sized crowd at Harlaw Park, with some of Locos attacking play a joy to watch. It’s testament to the attitude of the players that they kept looking for more goals late in the game despite the heat. Donaldson was delighted to secure such an impressive win against a team that he sees as having plenty of attacking threat, and was particularly pleased with the impact of his substitutes. “At 2-1 the game’s on, they’ve got their tails up so we made a couple of substitutions. I think the substitutes really helped us today because it was a hot, hot day and the boys had to dig in and work, so it was challenging for them, but it was good”.
Next week, we make the short journey to Pitmedden to take on Formartine United before welcoming Lossiemouth to Harlaw Park on the following Wednesday evening.
