Huntly reached the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield semi-final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park.
Despite atrocious conditions the sides served up an excellent encounter. Robbie Foster gave the Black and Golds the lead before Robert Ward equalised.
But it was Brodie Allen’s second half header which took Huntly, who lost on penalties in the final last season, into the last four.
Inverurie were unchanged from the side which defeated Fraserburgh on Saturday in the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup.
Huntly made two alterations to the side which lost to Formartine United. Michael Clark was suspended while Adam Morris dropped to the bench.
James Connelly came in along with Callum Lamb, who signed on loan from Dundee a few hours before kick-off.
Hosts start well
It started raining heavily before kick-off but the pitch at Harlaw Park held up well despite the deluge.
Visiting goalkeeper Fraser Hobday was tested in the 12th minute and did well to parry Lloyd Robertson’s strike from 20 yards.
Huntly had their first chance on 25 minutes. Slack play from Inverurie gave Foster a shooting chance 25 yards out and his effort whistled narrowly wide.
At the other end Connelly almost turned Garry Wood’s effort into his own net, but it was the Black and Golds who took the lead in the 32nd minute.
Foster collected possession on the edge of the area and after cutting on to his right foot the attacker’s shot skidded off the slick surface, hit the right post and bounced off goalkeeper Andy Reid’s back on its way into the net.
Inverurie almost responded instantly with Wood’s flick releasing Calum Dingwall into the area, but Hobday made an excellent save down to his left.
Five minutes after scoring Foster had to be withdrawn due to injury with Gavin Elphinstone the replacement.
Robertson fired wide from close range for the Railwaymen after Logan Johnstone’s long throw-in caused chaos inside the box, but just before half-time they did equalise.
Dingwall’s free-kick from the right was met by an excellent overhead kick from Ward 15 yards out which gave Hobday no chance.
Tie in the balance
The next goal in the tie was always going to be crucial and just before the hour Huntly almost got it.
Callum Murray’s pass teed up Cameron Blacklock on the left side of the area, but Mark Souter got across to block the shot with Andy Reid beaten.
At the other Greg Mitchell’s marauding run ended with the Inverurie captain finding Ward, but he scuffed a shot wide.
Wood was next to have a go on 66 minutes but his curler from the edge of the area was clawed away by Hobday.
However, Huntly were still a threat and Reid did superbly to tip away Elphinstone’s long range strike.
With 15 minutes remaining Inverurie were inches away from netting twice in a matter of seconds. First Wood’s strike from 15 yards rattled the crossbar and with Hobday grounded Jamie Michie’s rebound hit the left post.
However, it was Huntly who found the net two minutes later. Blacklock’s swirling free-kick from the left was nodded home from close range by Allen.
In the closing stages Inverurie piled on the pressure with Hobday making saves from Michie, Taylor Thain and Johnstone, but Huntly held out.
