Inverurie in seventh heaven against Fort
Goals ‘rain’ in at Claggan Park
Fort William Inverurie Locos 1 7
Highland League Fort William succumbed to their second home defeat in as many weeks on Saturday as Inverurie Locos left Lochaber with all three points after scoring seven goals.
The Claggan Park pitch withstood heavy rainfall in the days leading up to Saturday’s fixture and was in good condition as the teams took to the field under a shower of rain, once again.
With the new board watching on, Fort William were keen to make their mark on the visitors and it was a fairly even encounter in the first 10 minutes.
However, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Locos, sitting fifth in the Highland League, began to enjoy more possession and finally got the breakthrough on 11 minutes after Neil Gauld eased a volley into the net from a curled Neil McLean free kick.
Two minutes later, Inverurie doubled their lead after a long ball forward saw Joe McCabe nod the ball down for Gauld to volley past Callum Ligertwood in the Fort goal.
The home side hit back with their own effort on goal, but Josh Knowles shot straight into the Inverurie keeper’s arms.
Fort William would get their breakthrough in front of goal, however, after a flighted ball forward from defence looked to be dealt with by Inverurie but a header back wrong-footed keeper Reid.
Fort’s John Treasurer, playing in a more advanced role in the forward line this week, pounced on the defensive blunder and tapped home at the back post.
Frustrated by the lapse of concentration, the Locos responded immediately and a low struck shot was fantastically tipped onto the post by Ligertwood to deny the visitor’s their third. At the other end, Fort defender Andy Reid almost levelled but struck his effort wide of the goalposts of Andy Reid of Inverurie.
Gauld finally got his hat trick in the 32nd minute when he was in the right place to finish neatly at close range from a dinked cross ball.
He almost had a fourth minutes later but his 20-yard free kick was well-saved by Ligertwood.
Three minutes before the break, the Claggan Park crowd were left stunned as Locos forward Joe McCabe let fly with an outrageous overhead kick which flew into the net from distance.
It took Locos just eight minutes of the second half to make it 5-1 with Gauld again the man to finish from a wellplaced cross into the box. Soon after, Locos defender Mark Souter bulleted a header into the net.
Locos began to bombard the Fort goal but were continually denied by the heroics of Ligertwood between the posts.
There was just enough time for one more for Gauld though as he rounded Ligertwood and stroked home goal number 29 for the campaign.