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Locos moved up to third in the Breedon Highland League table thanks to another good win. An unfortunate Greig McNaughton own goal levelled the game after Ethan Cairns’ early opener, but Cairns soon restored the advantage before Daniel Agnew secured the points. The Railwayman could perhaps have had more from a strong attacking display but there were spells when they had to defend, although Zack Ellis was rarely tested.
Dean Donaldson reverted to the team that has played the last few league fixtures. There was positive news as Jay Halliday, who has yet to feature this season due to injury, was named on the bench. The positivity increased further as Cairns opened the scoring with just 45 seconds on the clock. Cole Anderson played a neat one-two with Cole Donaldson on the left before cutting back for Cairns who took a touch before firing past Lee Herbert. Locos came close to doubling the lead shortly afterwards as another good move ended with Callum Duncan cannoning an effort off the crossbar from 20 yards.
The hosts gradually got a foothold in the game, although any threat was largely of Locos own making. That was certainly the case when the leveller came. A corner from the right wasn’t dealt with effectively and when the ball came back into the box, McNaughton poked into his own net as he tried to clear. It was disappointing for Locos after such a good start but parity didn’t last long. Agnew reached Cairns’ searching pass before the goalkeeper. His shot from a tight angle was cleared straight to the striker who sent it back past several defenders and into the net to hit double figures for the season.
Having allowed Turriff back into the game, it felt important to regain the lead so quickly, and Locos set about trying to extend that lead. Donaldson presented Cairns wiyh an excellent opportunity for his hat-trick but his effort was too close to the keeper. Locos then thought they had got a third, but Nathan Meres header after Herbert had parried Donaldsons shot was ruled out for a tight offside. They continued to press, with Duncan testing Herbert with another effort from distance and Donaldson curling just off target.
Herbert saved twice more from Duncan in the early stages of the second half but United then enjoyed a strong spell, putting pressure on the Locos defence, who stood up well. It felt like Locos would need a third goal, and it came in the 64th minute. A quick break appeared to have broken down but when a defensive clearance only found Cairns and he slipped Agnew in to finish smartly.
Mackenzie Taylor flashed an effort wide for Turriff and a Meres shot was deflected just the wrong side of the post, but the closest to another goal came in added time when Ellis clawed away another Taylor strike. The result – the fourth this season by the same scoreline – extends Locos unbeaten run to 8 in the Breedon Highland League and they will be hoping to increase that next Saturday when Strathspey Thistle visit Harlaw Park.
