Saturday 18 March
Inverurie Locos 1 Huntly 4
Huntly kept up their 100% league record at Harlaw Park but left Inverurie with more injuries to key players writes Grant Turner.

Both sides made late changes to their subs benches with Scott Anderson a late call off for Huntly and Bruce Cutler for Locos. They were replaced by Richie Taylor and Andy Roddie respectively.

The home side went with the same starting XI as last week while the visitors included Jerry O'Driscoll in the starting eleven for the first time since early October in place of Russell Guild.

Huntly started well and forced the first attempt on goal as full back Alan Redford saw a shot deflected behind for a corner.

With 12 minutes gone, Ross Campbell was pulled up for a foul on Neil McLean. McLean looked to have kicked out in retaliation but no action was taken by Referee Ronnie Wright.
Moments later, Neil McLean sent a dangerous cross in from the left which was missed by the head of Craig Ross at the far post.

The Locos were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the 18th minute. Tommy Wilson picked out Craig Ross making a run on the right and his quick delivery into the area saw Barry Somers rattle the bar with a header.

With the home side still reeling from the missed opportunity, Huntly broke quickly to the other with Matty Gairns breaking clear on the right wing to deliver a cross which deceived the home defence allowing Jerry O'Driscoll to power home at header at the back post.

The reigning champions doubled the lead quickly after when scorer Jerry O'Driscoll turned provider. The striker's cross saw strike partner Richard Craig get the slightest of touches to head past the helpless Stuart Gray for his sides second.

Locos kept looking to get themselves back into the game as Somers played the ball in for top scorer Stuart McKay but Ryszard Gorski dived low to save.
McKay himself turned creator minutes later, getting clear on the right and sent a low cross into the six yard box but he was let down by the lack of attacking options in the Huntly goalmouth.

There was a blow for Huntly in 36 minutes when Simon Scott, who was named for the Highland League select, went over his ankle and was replaced by former Locos player Neil Reid.

Half Time: Inverurie Locos 0 Huntly 2

The second half was held up 15 minutes after Referee Ronnie Wright had called an end to his game through a back injury. After appeals for a replacement were made, Referee Supervisor Paul Watson came out of retirement to run the line with senior Assistant David Fleming replacing Mr. Wright as the man in the middle.
Huntly too had to make more changes of their own. Ross Campbell, who had played every minute of every game up until today had picked up a thigh injury and the visitors once again had to re-shuffle their tactics with Richie Taylor coming on for Campbell and Mark Gray dropping back into defence.

Three minutes into the second half, Stuart Gray was well alert to deny O'Driscoll while at the other end, Gorski got down low to keep out a Neil McLean effort. home player Craig Ross was the first booking of the day when he went in two footed at Neil Reid.

Four minutes later, sub Taylor caught Stuart Gray well off his line and proceeded to lob the keeper only for Gray to get back to turn the ball round the post.

Some poor defending by Locos from set pieces saw Huntly make it 3-0 after 56 minutes. Levi Stephen sent in a corner from the right as Richard Craig came in unmarked in the six yard box to head home.

Replacement Referee David Fleming made his second booking in 66 minutes when he booked Roddy Mess following a foul on Craig. The Huntly player was fortunate he too wasn't shown a yellow for retaliating after the challenge.

With 11 minutes left, Barry Somers pulled a goal back after the ball came loose inside the penalty area and the midfielder drove in a low shot for his second of the campaign.

Five minutes later, sub David Ross raced down the right wing and quickly found Kenny Coull 18 yards out. Coull drilled in a shot which looked destined for the bottom corner only for Gorski to turn the ball round the post with a superb save.

As the game headed into stoppage time, Richie Taylor played a ball in behind the Locos back four and with a number of red and black shirts appealing for offside, Richard Craig showed great skill and determination to continue his run and round the advancing Stuart Gray for his second hat-trick of the season.

The defeat - Locos heaviest in the league this term effectively kills off their hopes of a first league Championship as Huntly go up a place into 3rd.