Academy opened the scoring with 25 minutes played. MacKenzie
played a cross-field pass to Cunningham who threaded the ball through to
McKiddie. He marched through the middle of the Locos defence with ball at feet
before setting himself and firing home a right foot shot into the corner of the
net.
1 – 0
Minutes later the Scorries had another chance when Weir
lobbed a ball over the top of the Locos back-line. Shearer ran onto it and
tried to pluck it out of the air but he stabbed the ball over the bar in what
was a difficult chance to take.
By this stage Academy were pulling all the strings and
Macadie was next to try his hand, but he scuffed at his 15 yard shot and keeper
Reid made a comfortable save.
Locos manager Dave Cormie was obviously not liking what he
saw, as he made a change in personnel, striker Kenny Coull coming on for Scott
Buchan.
Academy however continued to dominate and McKiddie's goal
must have boosted his confidence, as he performed a neat spin evading two Locos
defenders before laying the ball square to an on-rushing Macadie but he fired
his 20 yards effort over the top of the cross-bar.
The Academy pressure did eventually yield another goal in
the 36th minute. Weir was sent through the heart of the Locos
defence and was tripped in the box by Jamie McKinnon. Referee Fraser had no
hesitation in pointing to the spot and awarded Academy a penalty kick. Weir
took the spot-kick but his shot was too close to keeper Reid who got down to
his left to make the save but he couldn't hold the ball and Macadie was out of
his traps in a flash to hammer the ball into the roof of the net from 4 yards
out.
2 – 0
In the dying seconds of the half the Scorries almost got
their 3rd. Cunningham drove up the right wing, passed the ball onto
Davie Cowie who crossed into the Locos box where Weir rose above the defence
and got his head to the ball. His effort beat keeper Reid but smacked off the
base of his right hand post.
Half time 2 – 0
The Locos started the second half with a change of
formation, moving from 5 in the middle to 4-4-2, and within 2 minutes of the
re-start Neil Gauld blasted past Stewart Ross on the edge of the box, but his
right foot shot went just over the cross-bar.
In the next attack they got right back into the game. The
Academy defence failed to clear their lines from a Mark Simpson cross and
substitute Coull picked the ball up and fired home a powerful right food shot
from 18 yards out.
2 – 1
Academy stuck with their passing game and 5 minutes later
Weir played a neat flick onto Shearer in the middle of the Locos penalty area,
but Shearer couldn't get his foot round the ball and the danger was cleared for a throw-in.
With 56 minutes played the Locos squared the game. They won
a free-kick 65 yards from the Academy goal. Goalkeeper Andy Reid came up-field
to take the free-kick which he fired into the Academy box. Referee Fraser asked
for it to be re-taken though after spotting some pushing and shoving in the
box. The first attempt probably gave Reid a good sighter as this time he hammer
that ball straight at target and wind-assisted it flew over the top of Paul
Bain's head and into the net.
2 – 2
The goals gave the Locos the boost they needed and on the
hour mark they almost took the lead. Craig Ross smacked a volley from the edge
of the box against the Academy post to the relief of the Academy supporters.
David Allan came on for Davie Cowie with about 20 minutes
left to play, and he found himself in the heart of the action after McKiddie
again marched through the Locos defence before he slid a pass to Allan but the
assistants flag went up for an off-side.
With a minute left to play and injury time looming Academy
almost scored what may have been the winner. Manson charged up the left wing
and squared to Weir in front of goal. He managed to flick it on and it fell to
Macadie 4 yards from goal but the ball took a bobble as he struck it and it
rocketed upwards and over the bar.
Locos went straight back up-field from the goal-kick. They
pumped a high ball into the Academy box and it flicked off Neil Gauld's head
and looped over the top of keeper Bain.
2 – 3
Seconds later the Locos sealed the tie when Kenny Coull latched onto a long ball, got
the better of Stewart Ross and homed in on goal, firing a right foot shot off
the right post and into the net.
2 – 4
Full Time 2 – 4
So a really brave attempt by Academy who played some great
football in the first half. If Weir's header had gone in to give them a 3 goal
lead into the break it may have been enough, but Locos showed their quality in
the second half. Scoring so soon after the interval seemed to give them the belief
that they could still win the tie. Their second goal was a bit fortuitous but
it was an exciting Cup tie that had everyone watching on the edge of their
seats. The win now earns Locos a home tie against Nairn in the semi-final.
Photographs from the game can be viewed in the photo gallery by following this link.
Sponsors Man of the match Bryan McKiddie
Pictured receiving his award from Rob Murray of match sponsor ITP Solutions Ltd
