Inverurie Locos through to Highland League Cup final after beating Brechin
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Inverurie Locos booked their place in the Highland League Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Brechin City.
The Railwaymen proved too strong for the league title contenders who struggled in the semi-final at Harlaw Park on Saturday.
Sam Robertson opened the scoring for the hosts about 20 minutes into the game when he lobbed the ball over City goalkeeper Leonard Wilson.
Just after half-time Sam Burnett scored Locos second goal and Brechin were unable to mount a fightback during the remainder of the game.
It was Brechin who threatened early in the match with Marc Scott, Grady McGrath and Botti Biabi all having chances blocked one after the other in a single passage of play.
A Locos ball came to captain Greg Mitchell who had a strike from distance which he saw go wide.
Kevin McHattie for City hit an effort at goal which he skewed and the ball went out of play.
The home side then took the lead when a long ball eventually got to Sam Robertson who lobbed it over Leonard Wilson and it landed in the net.
He had another opportunity when he turned and got a shot away but it was straight at the keeper.
At the other end Biabi hit an effort which deflected off Thomas Reid and it was saved by Railwaymen goalkeeper Andy Reid.
Brechin had a dangerous chance when McGrath's strike at a tight angle went across the goalmouth, however, there was nobody there to net the ball.
As the first half was coming to an end, Kieran Inglis tried a hit from distance which Andy Reid had covered.
Shorty after the break Burnett extended the home side's lead when Mitchell headed the ball to him in the box and he made no mistake with his volley.
A corner from the hosts sent in by Jamie Michie was headed by David Wilson who could not guide it into the net.
Locos were putting pressure on the City defence. Calum Dingwall hit a great strike from the edge of the box which was saved by Leonard Wilson.
The home side continued to press for a third goal with man-of-the-match Sam Robertson making an impressive run down the right wing, however, his cross did not reach any of his teammates.
A penalty was then awarded to The Railwaymen after Mitchell was taken down in the box by the keeper. Dingwall stepped up to take it and he slipped when he hit his shot and the ball bounced into the back of the net. However, referee Scott Leslie disallowed the goal as the defender had hit the ball twice.
Brechin had a late chance when Anthony McDonald and Fraser McLeod threatened the goal but Andy Reid and the Locos defence were there to block the danger.
Locos will face Banks O'Dee in the cup final after they beat Buckie Thistle in a penalty shootout at Victoria Park.
The game finished 1-1 and the Aberdeen side won 3-2 in the spot-kicks.
The final will be played on Saturday, April 8, at Bellslea Park in Fraserburgh.
Inverurie Locos manager Andy Low said: "It was a well deserved win and it looked like if there were any more goals in the game they were coming from us.
"We carried a threat throughout, we set the tempo in terms of our work-rate defensively and in attacking situations and to a man they were absolutely outstanding, every single one of them.
"They needed to be though as Brechin are a top Highland League side, they've proved it throughout the year and I'm sure they will go on and do really well during the rest of the season in the league.
"The players stuck to the gameplan which was to encourage them on to us and we would catch them on the break because we knew our front two of Sam Robertson and Robert Ward would cause them problems and that's what they did throughout the match.
"The players are a great group that want to work hard for each other and when you do that you let the quality take care of itself. The most quiet player was Andy Reid and that sums up the game."
