BANFFERS RUN OUT OF STEAM AS LOCOS PULL AWAY

INVERURIE LOCOS 3 DEVERONVALE 1

SCORERS: Mountford 3, Ross 32, Morrison 71, Broadhurst 90+1

Another tired & lacklustre performance from Deveronvale saw them lose against Locos for the third time this season to it has to be said a fairly young and inexperienced Inverurie side.

The loyal & hardy Valley Crew thought they were in for an enjoyable evening when their side took a third minute lead through Chris Mountford and although more or less dominating the next thirty minutes Vale allowed Locos to equalise with a cheap goal and this turned the game on it’s head.

The second period wasn’t great as a spectacle but the homeside took it by the scruff of the neck and scored twice to complete the treble over Anderson & Glennie’s troops with counters from Mike Morrison and Ryan Broadhurst.  

The visitors had a number of first team regulars missing as did Locos but took an early lead when Mike McKenzie’s flag-kick was headed back across the face of goal by Scott Fraser and Chris MOUNTFORD out-jumped the home defence to head home from close range.

McKenzie had come close twice prior to the goal with a close-range effort which was blocked before his thunderous free-kick 30-yard was well watched and turned around the post by Andy Reid as Vale got off to a flier.

The homeside replied to Vale’s early activity with a couple of scoring opportunities which Blanchy & co dealt with before Scott Fraser headed a dangerous Craig Ross cross out of the reach of Ryan Broadhurst at the back stick.

It took a further 20 minutes before either keeper was tested, Neil McLean finding his range with a strike from the edge of the box which Blanchy was equal to.

Just after the half-hour mark a hopeful ball in from the left from McLean was met perfectly by the head of Craig Ross with Steve Dolan unable to get off the ground and out of nothing it was all square and that’s how it was at the break. HT

The injured Derek Milne was forced out of things and he was replaced by the impressive Craig Cowie who never put a foot wrong as he covered Vale’s right-back slot for the whole of the second half.

Mark Chisholm had limped in at the break but returned to the action while Mike McKenzie took a heavy challenge from behind courtesy of Mike Morrison soon after the re-start and he looked unlikely to complete the ninety minutes but with little on the bench the experienced guys were forced to soldier on.

By contrast Locos made a couple of changes and looked a lot fresher as they started to control the middle of the park especially with the busy Michie catching the eye.

Dave Merriman collided with his own keeper and was forced off and replaced by Ritchie Davidson in what looked like a serious injury to the centre half.

With the game becoming rather dull Locos gave their fans something to shout about with the vital next goal, and with only nineteen minutes remaining.

Craig Ross’s near-post header had Blanchy at full stretch as he tipped over the top and from the resulting corner which the Vale defence only partially cleared the ball eventually fell to Mike Morrison who had an easy side-foot home from 6-yards out.

Locos came close again and only a strong fist from James Blanchard prevented Neil McLean making it three while at the other end substitute Stephen Gauld ripped Andy Bissett apart down the right flank but found no takers with his low centre into the mixer.

Vale continued to press for the equaliser but the homeside were worked their socks off in an effort to give them no space and as time ran out a ball over the top always looked like it may give Locos a third and that’s exactly what happened.  

Ryan Broadhurst playing his first match in over three months ran onto the long clearance before lobbing the ball over the advancing Blanchy to complete the scoring and a good night’s work for the Inverurie side.

TEAMS:

VALE – Blanchard, Milne (Cowie 46), Dolan (cpt), Chisholm, Fraser, Rodger, Lombardi, Cowie, McKenzie, Mountford (Gauld 72), Barclay

Subs not used: McKenzie (gk)

Co Managers: Stuart Glennie & Scott Anderson

LOCOS – Reid, Park, Bissett, Craib (Watson 54), Merriman (Davidson 65), #Morrison, #Ross, Michie, Broadhurst, Strachan (McIntosh 49), #McLean

Subs not used:

Manager: Dave Cormie

OFFICIALS:

M McNab

VALE STATS:

Shots on – 2

Shots off – 1

Woodwork - 0

Headers on – 1

Headers off – 0

Blocked Efforts – 3

Corners Won – 2

Offside – 4

Approx Attendance – 275

Last Season – 1-1

Ground Condition – Pretty Dry

Overhead Conditions – Calm

Temperature at KO – 13ºC