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Allan Hale thrilled after Huntly reach Aberdeenshire Shield semi-final

Huntly score their second goal against Inverurie Locos in the Aberdeenshire Shield, Brodie Allen, not in picture, got the goal.
Huntly score their second goal against Inverurie Locos in the Aberdeenshire Shield, Brodie Allen, not in picture, got the goal.

Huntly manager Allan Hale praised his players for holding firm to defeat Inverurie Locos and reach the semi-final of the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield.

The Black and Golds triumphed 2-1 in atrocious conditions at Harlaw Park to set up a home tie in the last four against Fraserburgh on January 18.

At the weekend, Huntly lost to Formartine United in the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup after conceding in injury time.

But Hale praised his players for withstanding late pressure on this occasion.

He said: “I’m delighted to get through, it’s our third semi-final in a year which is great for the club and a sign of progress.

“Harlaw Park is a difficult away venue, it’s never easy against Inverurie and we haven’t won here for a number of years.

“I felt we were clinical when we needed to be. Towards the end Locos put a barrage of balls into our box but we dealt with it really well so I’m delighted.

After what happened on Saturday it was pleasing the way we stood up. I said to Stefan Laird (assistant manager) after our second goal ‘are we going to deal with the reaction?’

“But we did and all the questions that were asked of the players they answered.

“We wanted a home tie and we’ve got that. It will be a tough game, but any semi-final will be difficult.”

New recruit pitched in

Huntly handed a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Callum Lamb, who joined on loan from Dundee a few hours prior to kick-off.

Hale added: “Callum was superb, he’s a quality player. We tried to get him in earlier and it didn’t quite happen.

“But we asked the question again and this time we managed to get it over the line.

“For Callum coming up and being involved with us for the first time I thought he was excellent.”

Robbie Foster gave Huntly the lead on 32 minutes when his shot from the edge of the area hit the right post and rebounded off goalkeeper Andy Reid’s back and into the net.

In response for Locos Lloyd Robertson fired wide from close range but just before half-time, they equalised when Robert Ward netted with an excellent overhead kick from 15 yards from Calum Dingwall’s free-kick.

Inverurie Locos put pressure on the Huntly goal.

In the second half, Blacklock and Gavin Elphinstone both went close for the Black Golds, while Ward was a constant threat for Inverurie.

With 15 minutes remaining, Garry Wood’s shot from 15 yards hit the crossbar for the Railwaymen and Jamie Michie fired the rebound against the left post.

Two minutes Huntly retook the lead when Brodie Allen’s looping header from Blacklock’s swirling free-kick dropped into the net.

In the closing stages, Fraser Hobday made saves to thwart Michie, Taylor Thain and Logan Johnstone as Huntly held out.

Frustration for Hastings

After the high of beating Fraserburgh in the Highland League Cup at the weekend, this was a disappointment for Inverurie.

Boss Richard Hastings said: “It’s a hard one to take, what happened in both boxes tells the story.

“Apart from set pieces and mistakes, we made I didn’t really see Huntly getting a goal, but we gifted them two goals really, which is a problem.

“At the other, we weren’t clinical enough so the story in both boxes gives you the result.

“I can’t question the boys’ endeavour to go and make things happen, but we need calm heads and clinical finish to finish things off and we lacked that.”