Formartine United somehow came back from 2-0 down at the break to lift their first trophy in senior football thanks to Mike Ewen’s glancing header two minutes into added time – a sensational comeback at Bellslea Park, Fraserburgh.
Inverurie Locos led with goals from Martin Bavidge and Andy Hunter but early in the second period Neil McVitie pulled one back and inspirational captain Craig McKeown’s leveller set up a grandstand finish before Ewen’s late winner.
Three wonderful deliveries into the box by Joe Hamill turned the game in United’s favour.
The former Hearts and Raith Rovers midfielder was elated at the final whistle. He said: “It’s a relief as we really didn’t play well at all in the first half when Locos deserved their two-goal lead.
“We were playing with the strong wind after the interval and that early Neil McVitie goal gave us a bit of belief.
“I was playing in the middle of the park in the first half and I was terrible.
“We changed it at half-time and it’s worked.
“This is my first piece of silverware for a very long time and I’m really going to enjoy the moment.
“It took me 92 minutes to cross the type of ball I wanted to, when it came it was great that Mike Ewen managed to get his head to it for the winner.”
In the second minute Locos almost opened the scoring with a blistering 30-yard Dean Donaldson free kick, but Andy Shearer in the Formartine goal got down well to parry brilliantly.
Inverurie again threatened when United centre half Ross Campbell slipped as a cross came in from the right but just as Bavidge was about to shoot Hamish Munro timed his interception to perfection to clear.
In the 12th minute a great run through the middle by Formartine forward Daniel Park was brought to an end by a Gordon Forsyth body check.
Park took the 25-yard free kick, but Reid safely smothered the shot.
Locos took the lead in the 21st minute.
Bavidge turned sharply to round Campbell and from 12 yards the former Caley Thistle and Peterhead forward fired the ball under the diving Shearer.
Eleven minutes later Locos doubled their advantage, capitalising on poor Formartine defending.
Hunter ran on to Donaldson’s pass, the United defence parted and Hunter galloped through the gap to calmly chip the ball over the advancing Shearer.
Five minutes after the break Formartine pulled one back.
Hamill’s cross from the left picked out Ewen, he nodded it down for McVitie who powered a 12-yard volley high past Reid.
In the 63rd minute it took a superb diving save from the Locos goalkeeper to keep out an angled Cammy Keith 10-yard drive as Formartine piled on the pressure and two minutes later a long-range Park free kick skimmed the crossbar.
With six minutes left United were level.
Locos failed to clear Hamill’s deep cross and when the ball broke to McKeown he clipped it home from 10-yards, the diving Reid made a valiant attempt to keep it out but could only help the ball into the roof of the net.
Formartine clinched it in the second minute of injury time when another Hamill cross found Ewen and his six-yard glancing header gave Reid no chance.
Disappointed Inverurie centre half Ryan Broadhurst said: “Conditions played a massive part, they were terrible.
“We capitalised with the wind at our backs in the first half, and so did Formartine United after the interval.”