Fraserburgh manager Mark Cowie hailed his goalkeeper Joe Barbour for his spot kick heroics as the Broch booked their place in the semi-final of the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup with a dramatic 11-10 penalty shootout win against Inverurie Locos.
The game at Bellslea finished 1-1 meaning spot kicks were required to settle the tie. Every player took a spot kick with Kieran Simpson for the Broch and Robert Ward for Locos seeing their efforts saved.
With the players forced to go through a second round in sudden death Taylor Thain and Scott Barbour both missed their spot kicks before Calum Dingwall missed his second effort giving Simpson the chance to make amends for his earlier miss by scoring the winner to give his side an 11-10 spot kick win.
A delighted Cowie said: “It wasn’t good for the heart was it?
“The pendulum swung a few times during the shootout but in a cup tie it is getting through that matters.
“Credit to Joe, he has had to sit on the step at times due to the form of Paul Leask but with Paul suffering from a few niggles he has come in and is doing really well. We’re pleased for him.”
Locos stunned Broch by taking half-time lead
Scott Barbour set the tone when his lay-off found Sean Butcher who sent Ryan Sargent clear down the left but Andy Reid made a fine save to turn the powerful drive past the post.
Locos responded instantly with an effort of their own but Robert Ward saw his effort parried by Joe Barbour in the Broch goal.
The home side did have the ball in the net in the 17th minute as Sargent knocked the ball home but his effort was ruled out for a foul on Locos captain Greig Mitchell.
All the chances for the home side seemed to be falling Sargent’s way and he had another opportunity when Bryan Hay found him in the box but he shot straight at Reid.
The Broch had the better of the chances but Locos refused to buckle. The pressure of Ward and Garry Wood was also causing the home defence problems and the duo would capitalise to put the visitors ahead in the 38th minute.
Kieran Simpson put his goalkeeper Barbour in all sorts of trouble when he fired a chest-high pass back from 20 yards.
Barbour tried to control the ball but was left off balance and Wood slid in to square the ball to Ward who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.
Second half equaliser for the league champions
The Broch needed just five minutes of the second half to restore parity.
A ricochet between two Locos players fell kindly for Sargent in the penalty area. Reid did well to parry his shout but Scott Barbour was on hand to fire home the rebound.
It was one-way traffic following the equaliser and the visitors had goalkeeper Reid to thank for keeping the score level as he made a terrific save to keep out Aidan Combe’s shot which was destined for the top corner.
But, despite five minutes of stoppage time being played neither side could find a winner and the tie went to penalties with Simpson netting the eventual winner after a marathon shootout.
Cowie said: “It was difficult as Locos came here with a gameplan and they sat really deep. When we did get through we lacked that quality which we showed on Saturday. Had the last pass been there we would have won comfortably.
“We got frustrated at times. We were in control in the first half then a mistake from Kieran Simpson put Joe Barbour under pressure and we found ourselves 1-0 down at half-time.
“The second half was an onslaught really at times and I think Inverurie were longing for the whistle near the end.”
