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Josh Bolton’s first goals since returning to Harlaw Park helped Locos to a comfortable win over Strathspey Thistle. Bolton’s double sandwiched strikes from Lloyd Robertson and Daniel Agnew in the first half before Cole Anderson added a fifth after the break.
Dean Donaldson picked the same starting eleven that had beaten Nairn County last week and his team didn’t waste any time in establishing their dominance. In the 4th minute, Blair Smith did excellently on the right before cutting back for Bolton to finish from close range.
Anderson then hit the base of the post before Locos did get the ball in the net a second time, only for Mark Souter’s header to be ruled out for a push. There was no let up from the Railwaymen as Bolton tried his luck from outside the box but Euan Storrier was equal to it.
A second goal seemed inevitable and duly arrived with 25 minutes on the clock when Robertson played a neat one-two with Callum Duncan. There was still work to do when he picked up the return but he showed composure to beat Storrier.
Even at this early stage, Robertson’s strike made a home win all but inevitable given the two sides’ current form. Thistle weren’t going to go down without a fight though, and Lewis Mackie wasn’t far off target with a low drive. Anderson passed up a glorious chance to add to the scoreline when he blasted over the bar from ten yards. He turned provider a few minutes later though, lifting the ball over the Strathspey defence for Agnew to fire past the advancing Storrier.
Storrier then denied Anderson at close range before being beaten once again by Bolton, the striker taking advantage of some hesitant defending shortly before the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, but the visitors proved harder to break down. The scoreline allowed Donaldson to hand a debut to young Rory Butchart off the bench, and rest one or two players ahead of a tough mid-week fixture. The fresh legs gave Locos new impetus and a Duncan effort was well blocked. Aidan Wilson then headed against the post before Anderson completed the scoring with a fine solo effort, slotting past the keeper after dancing through the Thistle defence.
Locos played out the remaining minutes in comfort to record an impressive eighth successive victory and 13th Breedon Highland League clean sheet of the season.
This was a fine attacking display and Donaldson was delighted with his players. “I thought from start to finish we dominated the game. It was really pleasing that we had our runners running off the ball, and we’ve got a couple of goals from that” he said “I was really pleased with the forward players. Josh Bolton took his two goals well, but he also linked the play really well too.” Deano was full of praise, too, for debutant Butchart. “Rory’s been doing absolutely brilliantly in the under 18s. He’s been performing really well and he’s not there just for show, he’s out there on merit. He’s a terrific young player.”
Locos are back at Harlaw Park to take on league leaders Brechin City on Wednesday evening before another tough fixture with the visit of Fraserburgh next Saturday. Given the current form, they will approach those games with confidence.
