INVERURIE LOCOS 6
BRORA RANGERS 1
IT WAS an afternoon to forget for Brora Rangers at Harlaw Park as they were put to the sword by a clinical Locos side who were in no mood for any upsets.
Locos took the lead in the sixth minute when a Nicky Gordon cross was helped on by Neil Gauld for Steven Park who curled the ball into the roof of the net.
Despite Locos early ascendancy, Brora almost got back on level terms shortly afterwards when Gary Kerr won the ball back in the middle of the park but his cross into the box just evaded Liam Baxter at the back post.
The Brora goal survived a scare in the 25th minute when Gordon fired a shot just wide of the upright.
Gordon had the ball in the net following a goalmouth scramble, however, referee Andrew Milne blew for an infringement.
But the home side doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when John Maitland swept home a Gauld cut back from the edge of the 18-yard box.
It got worse for Brora five minutes from the break when Maitland turned supplier. His ball into the box was missed by Brora's Sean Munro and Gauld was left with a simple tap-in.
Brora found themselves 4-0 down when the lively Gauld got on the end of a cross from substitute Keith Thomson to power a header past helpless Brora keeper Sean McCarthy.
To their credit Brora kept plugging away and they were rewarded with a penalty in the 68th minute after Kerr was fouled by Ryan Broadhurst in the box. Liam Baxter made no mistake from the spot.
However, two goals in as many minutes put Locos back in control.
Gauld clinched his hat-trick when the tricky forward glanced a header out of the reach of McCarthy to make it 5-1.
Brora lost their concentration and possession from the re-start and Gordon passed the ball for Mark Young, who fired the ball low past McCarthy for goal number six.
