GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup First Round, Fraserburgh v Inverurie Loco Works, Saturday 12th November 2022

Goals from Nathan Meres and Garry Wood earned Inverurie Loco Works their second win over Fraserburgh at Bellslea this season. The 2-1 victory earned the visitors a place in the quarter-finals of the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup where they will meet Turriff United at The Haughs.

Inverurie boss Richard Hastings said “we followed our game plan to a tee and could have been further ahead at half-time. We asked the players for more of the same in the second half, and they did exactly that.”

Locos went in front on the half-hour mark, Meres cutting in from the left onto a Sam Burnett pass to rifle a low drive from 20 yards inside Joe Barbour’s right-hand post.

Half Time: Fraserburgh 0 Inverurie Loco Works 1

The visitors grabbed a crucial second goal from the penalty spot on 50 minutes. Jamie Beagrie fouled Garry Wood in the area and he got to his feet to slam home the spot-kick low into the left-hand corner of the net.

Fraserburgh pulled one back in the 69th minute, Paul Young working his way superbly to the by-line and his low cross was flicked home from close range by Butcher at the front post. Butcher missed a glorious chance to equalise 15 minutes from the end, blasting wide from only 8 yards out, then Scott Barbour smacked a volley against the crossbar with Andy Reid beaten.

Broch manager Mark Cowie said “You can make excuses, but if you only perform for 20 minutes in a game, you’re not going to win.”

Full Time: Fraserburgh 1 Inverurie Loco Works 2

Fraserburgh: Joe Barbour, Ross Aitken, Jamie Beagrie, Bryan Hay, Kieran Simpson, Paul Young, Logan Watt (Paul Campbell 73), Greg Buchan, Ryan Sargent (Connor Wood 83), Sean Butcher, Scott Barbour.
Sub not used: Lewis Davidson, William West, Callum Kelly, Zane Laird, Sam Inglis.
Goalscorer: Sean Butcher (69).

Inverurie Loco Works: Andrew Reid, Thomas Reid, Greg Mitchell, Calum Dingwall, Mark Souter, Logan Johnstone, Robert Ward, Garry Wood, Sam Burnett (Jamie Michie 71), Nathan Meres (Craig Gill 76), Lloyd Robertson (Fergus Alberts 76).
Sub not used: Taylor Thain, Matthew Petermann, John Farquhar.
Goalscorer: Nathan Meres (30), Garry Wood (50, penalty).

Match Officials – Referee: Filippo Mazzoni, Assistant Referees: John Milne & Martin Bridger.