Loco's round off pre-season matches
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Saturday saw Andy Low’s Locos squad play their last pre-season fixture, in this most elongated and unique of football campaigns.
Denmore Park in Bridge of Don was the location with Hall Russell’s in all red hosting the Railwaymen in daffodil and royal blue.
Kieran Shanks, newly signed pre-match, took his place in the starting line up.
A Sam Burnett through ball had Halls turned around early but the keeper was quick off his line to smother.
Hunter, Shanks and Meres were linking well early on.
'Soapy' Souter was called upon to head clear from in front of the posts after the hosts had burst forward down the left flank.
Jamie Michie had a shot clear the bar with Halls doing the same at the other end.
Greg Mitchell marauded forward and drove the ball inches over.
The matchball, white a red band around its diameter, will have reminded observers of the one used in the English leagues in the early eighties.
Tam Reid was fed by Nathan Meres and whipped a left footed shot goalward.
Locos wouldn’t be denied for much longer.
Sixteen minutes on the clock and the impressive SHANKS netted a rebound, the original attempt on goal being by Meres.
Shanks then played in Meres who forced a brave save.
Mitchell yet again joined in with forward forays and his cross box pass was ever so close to being converted by Hunter.
MITCHELL then scored with a low drive on twenty six minutes, Hunter being pivotal in the lead up.
Four minutes later and it was 3-0, SOUTER leaping like a lively energetic salmon to loop a header over the goalie into the far corner, Jamie Michie with the dinked free kick finding the centre half’s forehead.
The home goalie did well to keep out a Dingwall drive and the Souter rebound.
Hall Russell’s were close to pulling one back next with two further Shanks attempts on goal closing out the first period.
HT 3-0 Locos.
Club captain Neil McLean was introduced and in a classic understated moment thrashed a thirty five swerving thunderbolt off the underside of the bar, before it bounced to safety.
A similarly ferocious long range effort from HUNTER literally burst the net next, the ball last seen heading towards the eighteen fairway at Murcar Golf Club.
The home team had a free kick clip the top of the Locos bar, with Michie close from a Hunter cross from the right wing. Jordan Cooper then rattled the right post with a Shanks shot drawing another good save.
The young man gathering a Nacho pass, with a quick swivel before getting a well struck shot away.
Kyle Gordon was inches from scooping up the ball after a McLean lobbed pass.
The skipper then met a first time thirty yard shot too well, the ball staying on a true straight line directly into the keeper’s arms.
Andy Reid is no stranger to racking up clean sheets, and secured another here with typical bravery in saving at point blank range.
COOPER netted the fifth goal from the tightest of angles.
The action concluded with Andy Hunter seeing a shot clip the right post.
FT 5-0 Locos.
Inverurie now face Turriff in the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup at Harlaw on Tuesday in the Club’s first competitive match to be played behind closed doors.
