Goals from Nathan Meres and Garry Wood earned Inverurie Locos their second win over Fraserburgh at Bellslea this season.
The 2-1 victory earned the visitors a place in the quarter-finals of the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup quarter final, where they will meet Turriff United at The Haughs.
Inverurie boss Richard Hastings said: “We followed our game plan to a tee and could have been further ahead at half time.
“We asked the players for more of the same second half, and they did exactly that.
“Garry Wood has been big for us, he brings that experience, links other players into the game and plays to his strengths. He gives us a massive focal point and boys can play off him from there.
“I have to give credit to the boys who came off the bench as well.
“It was a very hard game to come into and you don’t want to come on and make a mistake that could change things.”
Locos went in front on the half hour mark, Meres cutting in from the left on to a Sam Burnett pass to rifle a low drive from 20 yards inside Joe Barbour’s right-hand post.
The visitors grabbed a crucial second goal from the penalty spot on 50 minutes.
Jamie Beagrie fouled Garry Wood in the area and Wood got to his feet to slam the spot kick low into the left-hand corner of the net.
Fraserburgh pulled one back in the 63rd minute, Paul Young working his way superbly to the byline and his low cross was flicked home from close range by Butcher at the front post.
Butcher missed a glorious chance to equalise 15 minutes from the end, blasting wide from only eight yards out, then Scott Barbour smacked a volley against the crossbar with Andy Reid beaten.
Broch manager Mark Cowie said: “You can make excuses, but if you only perform for 20 minutes in a game, you’re not going to win.
“The first half was too flat and not enough urgency from us.
“In the second half Locos got their second goal after a couple of errors from us, and certain sides in this league are good at protecting leads.
“We just have to roll up our sleeves and get on with it.
“We have Aberdeen University in midweek, then the small matter of a game against Buckie next weekend.”
Huntly 2-3 Formartine United
Formartine United left it late to secure a 3-2 win over Huntly as captain Jonathan Crawford netted a stoppage time winner to set-up a Highland League quarter-final meeting with Buckie Thistle.
United manager Stuart Anderson was pleased to see his side bounce back after conceding two early goals within a 90 second spell.
He said: “Obviously it wasn’t the best start from us but once we got the first goal, I was confident we’d get a second then we scored in the last minute after missing several chances.
“Our attacking play was really good and I can’t single out any of them as them as they all did really well.
“But behind them, we’ve now got Jonathan Crawford on seven goals and he could’ve had a hat-trick after missing the penalty. It’s good to share the goals around.”
Huntly took the lead in the 27th minute. Cameron Blacklock received an Alexander Thoirs throw on the right and crossed in for Robbie Foster who headed in from a tight angle.
A minute later, Adam Morris sent a shot towards goal and Robbie Foster got the final touch from close range for his third of the season.
Formartine reduced the deficit in the 29th minute when a Matthew McLean long throw was not dealt with and Jonathan Crawford drilled low through a ruck of players.
Ross Still was penalised for a challenge on Aidan Combe inside the Huntly box seven minutes from the break. Referee Joel Kennedy awarded a penalty but Crawford passed up the opportunity by firing wide of the post.
Aidan Combe levelled the scoring after 56 minutes with a close range finish after the ball took a ricochet in the home goalmouth.
Three minutes into stoppage time United grabbed a late winner when another McLean long throw caused problems in the Huntly box and Jonathan Crawford headed in his seventh of the season.
Huntly manager Allan Hale said: “I thought we had done enough to take the game to penalties.
“We started the game really well, got two goals in front but the game’s never over at 2-0.
“The frustrating thing from us is we spoke at length about Matthew McLean’s long throw and every goal we’ve conceded has come from a long throw-in and that boils down to individual responsibility.”
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