Controversy mars rip-roaring encounter
Inverurie started brightly as they looked to take the game to the Jags in Saturday’s Highland League match.
Andy Low was denied by a Willie Ridgers save early on, before Neil McLean’s inviting ball across goal found no takers and then John Maitland’s corner kick grazed the crossbar.
The Locos found an opener on 22 minutes with Neil Gauld running onto McLean’s fine threaded pass, before showing a clinical edge in front of goal to blast beyond the exposed Ridgers.
Then there was the moment of controversy in the 25th minute when Strathspey were denied what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate equaliser.
Craig Rothney whipped in a deep cross from the right and Mateusz Bobrowski muscled his way past his marker to plant a header beyond Andy Reid in the Locos goal.
However, the Jags’ celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.
As if that wasn’t painful enough for the visitors, they went two goals behind barely a minute later.
Gauld raced down the right and cut the ball back to striker partner Nicky Gordon, who curled a delightful effort beyond the grasp of Ridgers from 22 yards.
Gauld then failed to hit the target as the Locos looked to kill the contest before half-time, and then Gordon diverted a Maitland cross over the bar.
Scott Begg then fired over the top in the second-half after making space for himself inside the penalty area, and the same player was involved again as Inverurie made the points safe in the 58th minute.
The midfielder played a fine through pass to Andy Low and he finished beyond the helpless Ridgers to put Strathspey three goals behind.
Begg then failed to get his name on the score sheet again and Gauld and Maitland both missed the target with free kicks as the Locos continued to press.
However, they rounded off the scoring eight minutes from time.
Gordon was the supplier with a pinpoint cross from the right and the unmarked Maitland couldn’t fail to miss at the far post.
Inverurie Locos: Reid, Michie, McLean (Park 57), Bain, Broadhurst, Scott, Low (Strachan 65), Begg, Gordon, Gauld (Young 78), Maitland Subs: Thomson, C. Ross.
Scorers: Gauld (22), Gordon (26), Low (58), Maitland (82)
Strathspey Thistle: Ridgers, Horsburgh, Tulloch, Mochan, Munro, McDonald, Hardie, Swinton (McArthur 78), Rothney (D. Ross 36), Bobrowski, Reinsons (Wardrope 64). Subs: Macleod, Klarklins (gk)
Referee: Thomas Shaw