Loco's kick off season with a decisive win
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Inverurie Locos' first home league match on a Saturday for forty one weeks yielded a highly pleasing and hard fought, two-nil win against a spirited Keith side.
In keeping with this challenging calendar year, a Garioch ground frost could have threatened this fixture, but the excellent condition of the park coupled to temperatures reaching around five degrees, ensured that the Breedon Highland League Championship started on time.
Keith looked lively in the warm up, the Kynoch lads keen to impress their new gaffers, ex Locos Roddie and Wilson.
Inverurie had Morgan Cook between the sticks, with returns to starting duty for messrs Burnett and Gauld.
Sluggish beginnings had made the recent Turriff tie more tricky than it needed to be and the Broch fixture an uphill struggle, so a crisp and energetic first period was welcome to see at Harlaw.
Spink suffered a bleeding wound after an accidental clash with Shanks, thankfully he was able to return around six minutes later.
Meres sped to the byline and smashed a low centre that nearly found Shanks, Gauld then shot over and linked well with McLean next, feeding Shanks who saw his effort graze the bar on the way over.
Keith had Smith shooting wide of the left stick, forcing Braodhurst into a superb diving block.
Neil GAULD doesn’t need two invites to dink a long range lob over a goalie in no man's land and finished with aplomb for 1-0 on nineteen minutes.
The lead was commensurate on chances and play early doors.
Mark Souter put life and limb on the line to thwart Keith before Cook showed similar bravery at point blank range to deny the away side too.
Gauld and McLean had free-kick attempts with Macaskill, freshly warned for a mild case of red mist, yellowed for tripping Broadhurst.
Keith were determined throughout and could have caught out Cook with a sliced cross, with Souter then heading behind a whipped cross.
Robertson tried to ease an attempt into the corner but it lacked power and purchase, Cook handling with ease.
The second half saw Burnett simply immense from start to finish and an audacious volley wasn't far away.
Robertson was cautioned for a jersey pull on McLean, a simple and clear decision for the match referee.
Drama next as a McLean free kick came back from the goalie and amidst handball claims in the aftermatch, the ball bounced behind for a goal kick.
Selfridge was putting in a shift and a half and shot wide and high after creating the opportunity for himself.
Gauld and Shanks went close as Locos continued to the best side, albeit by that solitary margin.
Fourteen minutes left and that man GAULD concluded business with a deflected goal after Meres had set things up from wide right.
Macaskill then had to take his leave, his challenge on the impressive Gill was always going go to merit the second yellow, as whilst wholehearted and honest, it just isn't permissible these days. Inverurie bagged the points and a clean sheet, whilst Keith will be enthused by their performance too.
Full time at a freezing Harlaw was Inverurie Loco Works 2 -Keith 0.
Next up is a tricky match at Victoria Park in Buckie, when two sides with full points go head to head.
