Fraserburgh got in the mood for this weekend’s Scottish Cup cracker against Rangers with a hard-earned Highland League point against Inverurie Locos on Saturday.
Locos hit a last-gasp equaliser for a deserved draw but, despite conceding late on, Broch manager Mark Cowie had no complaints about the outcome.
He said: “We’ve scored a few late goals ourselves to get results in games. It was two great goals for Locos, their first was one no goalkeeper can save, the second is curled round three of our players who rushed out to block.
“Our players were adamant Locos shouldn’t have been awarded a corner that produced the second goal but they deserved their late goal.
“I felt my players retreated too much but before the season started I’d have been happy with four points out of six from our two games against Inverurie.
“There was no question of the effort and application of my players, they were fully focussed on this game.
“That’s us ready to look to Sunday now, it’s going to be a great day for everyone connected with the club. There’s no pressure on us, everyone expects us to lose.
“I now have the job of sitting down and thinking of a starting team, it’s a difficult task for me as only a maximum of 14 players out of our squad of 20 can be involved but they will all be committed to preparing for the big day.“
Fraserburgh opened the scoring after 40 minutes. Mark Souter upended Paul Campbell in the box and Campbell himself stepped up to send Reid the wrong way from the penalty spot for his 21st goal of the season.
Locos equalised within two minutes with a sensational goal. Former Aberdeen and Dundee Utd midfielder Stuart Duff, captain for the day deputising for the injured Neil Mclean, latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the box before sending a left-foot shot past Peter Tait. It was the Aberdonian’s first goal for Locos.
Locos were reduced to 10 men in 54 minutes, Joe McCabe mistiming a challenge on Ryan Cowie and collecting a straight red card.
The Broch regained the lead in 71 minutes, an inch-perfect corner from the left by substitute Graham Johnston met by the high-rising Jamie Beagrie, who scored with a looping header.
Connor Rennie came to Locos rescue in injury time when, after a disputed corner award, the right back scored through a ruck of players for a dramatic equaliser, his first goal for Locos.
Locos manager Neil Cooper said: “Our performance was excellent against a very good Fraserburgh side and considering we played the last 35 minutes a man short after Joe McCabe’s ordering-off.”
