Broch’s turn for the better delivers home win

Goals from Paul Young, Gary Harris and Paul Campbell gave Fraserburgh victory against Inverurie Locos at Bellslea last night.

There was little between the teams other than Young’s early goal in the first half but the Broch moved up a gear after halftime and deservedly doubled their lead.

Andrew Hunter halved the deficit but the home side secured all three points thanks to a penalty from Paul Campbell in stoppage time.

Locos made a bright start and Andrew Hunter came close to giving his side an early lead, capitalising on a mix-up in the Broch midfield, but he dragged his shot wide of the Broch goal.

Inverurie were bright and carried a threat but their failure to make the most of their early pressure was punished as the home side opened the scoring in the 13th minute with their first shot at goal – thanks to a Paul Young half volley from 16 yards after Locos had failed to clear a ball into the box.

The goal settled the home side and Gary Harris had a chance to double the lead but his lob over Ryan Booth went wide.

Locos pushed for an equaliser but the home defence, marshalled by the excellent Bryan Hay, ensured Peter Tait in the Broch goal was untested before the break, although the goalkeeper was happy to see a deflected Colin Charlesworth effort go just wide of his left post.

The same could be said for Locos goalkeeper Booth, however, with the Inverurie backline doing enough to protect its goal and ensure the home side did not add to its lead.

The pattern continued in the second half with play going from end to end but chances remained at a premium due to both sides lacking the final pass in the final third.

With the game delicately poised a second goal for Fraserburgh would have put them firmly in control and they almost got it through Greg Buchan, whose long-range shot was parried by Booth in the Inverurie goal.

The tempo from the home side increased and Booth parried another effort, a 30-yard Dean Cowie free kick.

But his defence was able to clear the danger before a Broch player could convert the rebound.

The chances were beginning to come for Mark Cowie’s side and Harris should have done better when he found space in the box but the forward opted for power and his rising shot failed to find the target.

The Broch would not be denied though and Harris broke clear of the Locos defence with 20 minutes remaining.

He rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net to make it 2-0 and give the Broch some breathing space.

Having worked so hard to extend their lead the Broch let Locos back into the game immediately when poor marking allowed Hunter to head home a corner kick.

But the Broch claimed the home points thanks to Campbell’s injury-time spot kick. Forres Mechanics made it six points from two games with a win over Fort William at Mosset Park.

The home side took the lead in the sixth minute, Calum Howarth finding Allan MacPhee on the edge of the penalty area and his shot took a deflection on its way into the net.

Eight minutes later Fort stunned their hosts with an equaliser, Liam Taylor sliding Scott Hunter through on goal and he slotted past Stuart Knight from 12 yards.

Forres went back in front nine minutes from

“The goal settled Broch and Harris had a chance to double the lead”