Inverurie Locos rounded off 2019 and the decade in style by bringing their goal tally up to 22 goals in their last nine outings in front of an ecstatic home support.
With League leaders Brora Rangers also winning well at home as did Rothes and Buckie Thistle and Fraserburgh inactive, it’s shaping up to be an exciting title race.
Andy Low was delighted with his team’s display once again.
He said: “This is another result for us which again keeps the pressure up at the top and we just want to keep winning and hope that fellow challengers have dropped points, I’m confident in the squad I have we can win any Highland League game.
“The performance in the second half was particularly impressive, we really stepped it up. We had scored three times in the first half but it had started to go a bit slow, as if the players assumed the game was won.
“The only downside of the game from our point of view was the second half sending off of our right back Greg Mitchell, Greg will always go in wholeheartedly into a tackle but he is not a dirty player. ”
The opener came in five minutes after Ryan Stott powered in a shot which Stewart Black did well to turn away for a corner. Captain Neil McLean was quickly on to the ball, and came inside to drive a low strike inside Black’s left corner.
Four minutes later McLean was the provider with a searching ball in to Chris Angus who eased away from his marker to cut back for Neil Gauld to net a tap in.
Although Locos created chances galore the Coasters did produce an occasional threat, Connor Macaulay missing the best of their opportunities.
Six minutes from half time Gauld scored his second, it was similar to his first as Angus again hit the left byline and set his fellow striker the opportunity to scoop the ball high into the net.
The scoring continued five minutes into the second half when McLean crossed for Andy Hunter to head home. The Red and Blacks were hungry for more, in 59 minutes Chris Angus got in on the act by finding the net with a low right footer from just outside the box and two minutes later it was big defender Eric Watson heading home a curled free kick by substitute Jamie Michie.
Locos were reduced to ten men in 66 minutes when Mitchell was sent-off for a 50-50 challenge with Brodie Allan who came off worst and had to be substituted.
Gauld completed his hat-trick with a perfectly hit volley from 12 yards after an absolutely brilliant run by Hunter leaving defenders in his wake and superb cross from the right byline.
The visitors had a right good go at getting back into the game, Fraser Forbes pulling a goal back in 80 minutes.
Lossiemouth boss Joe Russell said: “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us, thus result coming on the back of a heavy home defeat by Brora Rangers.
“You can see the quality of players Locos have all over the pitch.”
