Fourcast bright on the Low side
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by Billy Thomson
FREEZING temperatures, lower than forecast, had the Garioch wakening up to a hard frost on Saturday.
The Harlaw Park goalmouths were pretty solid so match referee Dan McFarlane came to the park for an inspection, and with commendable practicality and proactivity, allowed Locos staff some time to thaw the frozen zones.
Space heaters and the use of perspex panels to capture and optimise the heat, yielded success and turned frozen white to soft green.
A returning match referee gave the match his blessing.
Clach headed down the A96 having pushed Brora Rangers all the way in their last outing.
Locos had a week of contrasts, the carnage and freak defeat on Saturday being cleansed and thoroughly overshadowed by a total performance at Pitmedden on Wednesday.
Illness, injury and suspension were again factors in Andy Low’s selection, but the electric 11 from North Lodge was only changed by a returning Mark Souter replacing an injured Eric Watson.
Souter, making Locos appearance 200 was wearing the armband.
A sold out Locos Hospitality included Gothenburg Great Doug Rougvie in their number.
Locos were on top right from the off and only had to wait six minutes for their opener, Greg Mitchell charging to the near post and flashing a header home.
Neil McLean had a header saved before Ryan Stott unleashed a beauty that had keeper Jake Williamson at full stretch to tip over.
Miller headed wide and a spectacular Martin Callum diving header was off target too, to offer a wee moment of respite for a Clach side facing red and black tides of attack after attack.
Stott shot straight at the goalie, Jonny Smith was wide after the goalie swiped at fresh air and a Calum Dingwall free-kick was dropped, the rebound being saved as Mitchell chased a brace.
Souter wide, Andy Hunter shot saved, Dingwall shot too high and another Souter header went over.
Williamson then produced an amazing reflex block.
Stott did nothing wrong, making decent contact, with the goalie’s save being truly top drawer.
Hunter had a header saved and a Smith shot was hacked off the line next.
Williamson had avoided a cricket score before half time and with Locos attempt on target number 12, he made another top stop on the stroke of half-time.
Little wonder the goalie was applauded from the field by the Chuff-Chuffs.
After netting one goal from 12 attempts on target, the Railwaymen proceeded to net two from two in two minutes.
A rejuvenated Smith stroked home his third goal of the week, wonderful to see this big popular man in the groove and playing football with a smile on his face.
Virtually straight from the kick-off Stott positively crashed home a left foot smasher, taking the ball early to give the faultless keeper no chance.
Clach weren’t for quitting and gaffer Sandy McLeod won’t have any grievances about workrate and appetite.
Callum (twice) and James Beeston shot for goal.
McLean had a shot charged down with Dingwall weighing in with goal four on the day next (and goal four for the player for the campaign).
He followed up on his own saved shot to pass the rebound into the net on 56 minutes and 4-0.
Craig Gill and Jordon Cooper replaced McLean and Andy Watt.
Stott jumped high and hung in the air before a dipping header fell just wide.
Gill was passing the ball around like a seasoned veteran and showing the football intelligence that makes him so highly thought of at Harlaw.
A Callum shot was then cruelly deflected past Andy Reid, harsh on the big goalie and his rearguard who probably deserved at least two clean sheets for their week’s work.
Ross Logan showed plenty in this match to enthuse the hardy bunch of travelling Clach fans, and went on a series of mazy old-fashioned runs.
With temperatures dipping the final whistle blew with three more league points banked.
