Gordy off as we lose two goal lead
Inverurie Locos will play Peterhead in Round 3 of the William Hill Scottish Cup after turning around a two goal half time deficit against Clachnacuddin at Harlaw Park. Perennial top scorer Neil Gauld was hat trick hero, his three goals in a deadly seven minute second spell crucifying Clach who had Gordon Morrison ordered off right at the start of the second half
Both sides went into the game with different attacking threats, Kenny Coull and Neil Gauld partnered in the home side while the respective 9 and 10 shirts for the opposition were worn by Gordon Morrison and Paul Brindle
Locos went for the jugular right on the first whistle on a blustery day. Coull and Gauld saw strikes blocked on the line in quick succession and the Lilywhites had to keep their wits about them being forced into the concession of early corners
Neil McLean was also back in the home side after recovering from flu and he went on one of his rangy runs from full back, releasing his co boss Coull at the edge of the box but defenders closed rank to block his shot
At the other end a slip by Keith Thomson allowed Clach to drive away on the left and when the ball came in Gordon Morrison had two bitess of the cherry, his first effort blocked before a snatched at the rebound on his left foot
Craig Ross had built up the pace from the right and from one of his balls forward, John Maitland took it sweetly on his left foot volleying against the outside of the post
There was a shock though when Clach took the lead on the half hour, Brian MacLeod's well flighted corner headed home by the unmarked Neil M MacDonald
It was to get worse for the homesters with the threat of a huge dampener on Tommy Wilson's Testimonial Dinner tonight. Both Steven Park and Kevin Thomson failed in their attempts at clearing headers leaving Sam Urquhart scot free to ram home past Andy Reid from close range
The game was turned on its head right at the start of the second half when Gordon Morrison reacted badly after a clash with Park, both players yellow carded but for Morrison an early bath being his second caution of the game
It was to all go Locos way in a killer seven minute spell with Gauld hitting gold In 50 minutes a long ball through the centre of defence was not met by Colin Williamson and Neil Gauld guided it past veteran Steven Dunn from ten yards out
Then a pinpoint right wing cross by Craig Ross came to Neil Gauld directing his header well away from Dunn's reach
It was Neil Gauld with his third in 56 mins, this time Kenny Coull firing in from the right, the defender on the line unable to turn the right way to clear the ball, Gauld simply stepping in to get a poke on the ball
John Maitland volleyed a shot wide on his right foot later in the half, Gauld off balance heading a Tommy Wilson coss wide, but the visitors also piled on pressure right to the final whistle, piling bodies into the box including Dunn in injury time but it was not to be for them
Final Score Inverurie Locos 3 Clachnacuddin 2
Reporter John Innes