ON Monday, (February 20), Inverurie Locos announced the re-signing of three key squad players to the Summer of 2015, central defenders Ryan Broadhurst and Kieran Adams as well as all rounder Jamie Michie.

Co-boss Scott Buchan was delighted to announce the great news, “Everyone at Locos is delighted that these three key players have committed their futures to us. They, amongst others are the future of the club.

“It was vitally important for us both that we have the nucleus of a squad to work with for the next three years minimum in order to bring success back to Harlaw Park.

“The fact that they are all young guys with many years of football left is a huge bonus. All three have tremendous potential to go on and become excellent consistent Highland League players at worst and, if they keep listening, working at their game and showing the same attitude as they currently are, then perhaps higher and they would go with our best wishes.

“All of them are extremely popular in the dressing room and share in all the banter that flies around. For them all financial implications do not come into the equation, it is all about enjoying your football and winning medals and that is a mentality we share and try to promote as often as we can.

“The fact that they have joined a few others in committing to the club and us hopefully shows we are heading in the right direction. Inverurie is a great club to play your football at this level and these guys appreciate that.

“We would both like to thank our chairman and his committee for the tremendous amount of work they put in which gets no credit but certainly doesn’t go unnoticed by us which allows us to push on with our plans”.

Darts fever came to Inverurie on Friday (February 17) with some of the world’s top players battling it out for the annual Garioch Masters.

There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Garioch Sports Centre with seven of the game’s leading players contesting the title, alongside local Aberdeen qualifier David Knowles.

With an audience of more than 400 roaring them on, the giants of the game, including recently crowned world champion Adrian Lewis, had the Inverurie venue absolutely rocking and put on a superb display for the fans.

In the end it was Englishman James Wade who walked off with a 5-3 win and the title after gaining revenge on Australian Simon Whitlock who had beaten him 8-4 in Thursday night’s thrilling Premier League match at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The Garioch Masters event organiser, Graeme Kennedy, said it had been a great night and everything had gone perfectly.

He added: “Its been yet another terrific night here at The Venue and I would like to pay tribute to all those who have made it such a success.

“Centre manager Stuart Gordon and his team do a fantastic job, and the players really enjoy coming here and they all have great fun in a tremendous atmosphere.”

The fans lapped up the occasion and were left clamouring for more.

One said: “It was great being at something like this .

“You see it on the telly but you can’t beat actually beat being there. Seeing the top players in the game in action is something you don’t forget.”

Another added: “It’s great seeing these guys in Inverurie. To get all those big names at one event is fantastic. I can’t wait for them to come back again. What an evening.”

A RUN of eight straight wins by Monymusk in Division 3 came to an end in disappointing fashion at Turriff on Saturday when they were hit for six in a game played in blizzard conditions at times.

Musk’s last defeat in the league before this game was away back in August when they suffered a 5-2 loss away to Auchnagatt Barons and Musk suffered an early setback when experienced central defender Phil Stewart had to limp off with an injury after only 10 minutes.

The visitors had a great chance to take the lead three minutes later when the referee gave them a free kick six yards out for what he deemed a pass-back by a Turriff player to his keeper who picked the ball up. With all 11 Turriff players on the goal-line Andrew Moss stepped up but blasted the ball off the post.

A minute later Turriff were in the lead when Musk keeper Mikey Fyffe was unable to deal with a cross from the right which fell to a Turriff player who made no mistake.

Turriff were still looking threatening and eventually increased their lead in 37 minutes when a Turriff player broke down the left wing this time and made no mistake with an angled drive.

A Jamie Mackie free kick saw Liam Barron go close for Musk with a header but with just two minutes remaining of the first half the home side gave the visitors a mountain to climb with a third goal, a volley after a cross from the left.

Monymusk lost their other central defender, Callum Nicolson, to an injury and he was replaced at half-time by Liam Beaton.

Cruden again went close in 49 minutes with a header from a corner but there the threat ended from Monymusk with Turriff taking control as the snow fell, driven by a biting wind.

The home side made it 4-0 midway through the second half and as the game progressed only some great goalkeeping from Fyffe kept Turriff at bay.

With six minutes remaining Turriff added a fifth and completed Musk’s misery with a sixth right at the end of the game.

Monymusk: Fyffe, Mackie, Lyon, Nicolson (Beaton), P. Stewart (Smart), Forshaw, Moss, Barron,Cruden, Sangster and Eddie (J. Stewart)

Unused substitutes: Doverty and Duthie.

Monymusk will be looking to bounce back on Saturday, February 25, when they play host to league leaders Ferryhill at Deer Park with a 2pm kick-off.

LAST weekend promised some interesting matches for the Colony Park camp, but with overnight snow on Saturday, all of Sundays fixtures were wiped out. However Saturday saw a full schedule with only one defeat.

AFTER two very good victories Colony Juniors, gave a debut to keeper Craig Duguid and made four other enforced changes due to work commitments.

Colony playing with advantage of slope and wind made the breakthrough on 22 minutes when a cross from the right was met by Adam Maitland and although his shot was stopped by their keeper Scott MCINTOSH was on hand to stab the ball home.

Soon after Colony were reduced to ten men as the ref adjudged a challenge by Craib as a last man foul and the centre back was red-carded. Colony held out until half time with keeper Duguid having a fine debut.

The second half was a struggle for the visitors although St Ninians did not appear able to find a way past the Colony keeper but they were given a lifeline as a fairly clear offside decision wasn’t given and Nairn scored with a header.

With time running out and Nairn unable to take advantage of the extra man Colony put on more pressure and should have been awarded a penalty almost on the final whistle but the referee chose to blow for full time rather than the infringement.

League leaders Colony Park U19s met closest rivals Banchory with a five point gap at the top of the table and it was the Inverurie side who started on top taking an early lead in five minutes with a goal from Lee ADDISON.

As the half wore on Banchory worked their way into the match and Colony had keeper Shaun Ramage to thank with some good saves but he found himself facing a penalty right at the end of the first period. From a nothing ball into the box Angus Munro clashed with a Banchory attacker as he cleared the ball for a throw and the referee awarded a penalty to Banchory.

The penalty was well saved by Shaun Ramage but he could only push it back into the penalty takers path who tucked the ball into the net at the second attempt.

In the second period both sides had chances to secure a victory and while Banchory probably had more possession it was Colony who created the better chances. In the end the draw ensured Colony retained the five point gap over their opponents in the race for the title.

Colony Park U17s faced a determined East End side in conditions which were awful both underfoot and with freezing gale force winds.

Having won 7-0 at the start of the season the Park were hoping for a good win on the road but the weather was always going to be a factor in the outcome.

Craig WIGHT opened the scoring and soon after David WALLS made it 2-0, but East End pulled one back before half time when the wind caught a cross and took it into the top corner.

In the Second half Colony continued to spurn cahnces and it was East End who then broke away and from a well hit shot Coutts could only parry the ball straight to the home striker who leveled the score

Almost straight away Colony went up the pitch and Matthew BATTENSBY grabbed what turned out to be the winner.

The U16s met Culter on bitterly cold at Davidson Park and from the start Darren Smith drove into the Culter area, the keeper pulled off a great save and the loose ball found Dean STILL at the far side of the box and he found the top corner with less than one minute gone.

Colony then got a break as STILL added a second with a hint of offside as he pounced on a through ball.

It looked like Colony would have to settle for a two goal lead at the break but STILL got his hat-rick as he flicked a ball over the last defender before lobbing the goalkeeper.

Colony dominated most of the second half and Dean STILL got his fourth of the day as he and the keeper bravely challenged for a high ball at the back post.

Colony should have had a penalty moments later as from a quick break Alex Duguid was clipped about three yards inside the box, the referee blew but decided it was right on the 18 yard line.

The Under 16 Colts met Kemnay in the local derby and a chance to make it two wins out of three. Colony completely dominated the first half and two goals from Billy FLORENCE ,a single for Joe MITCHELL, followed by two from Ryan RAE gave the Colts a 5-0 half time lead.

With the advantage of goals Colony were able to make changes in the team and despite numerous chances created they only added one more goal through Andreas MITCHELL to give a final score of 6-0

The Under 16 Lads faced higher league opposition in Round 2 of the Presidents Cup and lost heavily to a hard working Fraserburgh Link-Up side by 16 goals to nil

INVERURIE Locos followed up their excellent win over Brora Rangers with a very disciplined performance to edge out Deveronvale in an afternoon where the play was largely dictated by the strong wind and wintry conditions. The match was settled midway through the second half by a deflected effort from Locos striker Nicky Gordon, which sent the travelling supporter’s home happy.

The match started with a quick tempo, with Deveronvale taking the game to Locos and the home side enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening 15 minutes.

It was against the run of play that the visitors created the first chance of the match in the 12th minute. John Maitland created space on the left hand side and his low cross evaded Deveronvale keeper James Blanchard, although neither the on-rushing Neil Gauld or strike partner Nicky Gordon could convert the chance and as a result, the ball went out for a goal kick.

The first clear cut chance of the afternoon fell to Deveronvale when some clever play between Grant Noble and Mike McKenzie allowed midfielder Chris Blackhall to create a chance from around 25 yards, but his shot went well wide and did not look like troubling Loco’s keeper Andy Reid.

Towards the end of the first half, both sides went in search of a goal to break the deadlock and Locos almost did just that when Gordon received the ball from a free kick from the right but his curling effort from the edge of the box went just wide with Blanchard at full stretch.

The second half started very slowly with neither side being able to create any clear goal scoring opportunities. However, the match sprung into life in the 59th minute when Loco’s left-back Neil MacLean went on a surging 50 yard run from inside his own half and remained unchallenged until he slipped the ball to the feet of the unmarked Nicky GORDON whose low effort took a deflection off ‘Vale defender Scott Henry and just beyond the reach of Blanchard to give Inverurie the lead in the match.

The goal seemed to spark Deveronvale into life as they enjoyed the majority of the possession after the goal. Shortly after the goal, midfielder Graeme Rodger managed to spring the offside trap and his touch took the ball round keeper Andy Reid, but his shot was blocked by the Red and Black defence who managed to get the ball to safety.

Towards the closing stages of the match, Inverurie created a couple of chances to increase their lead but to no avail.

First, the combination of Neil MacLean and Nicky Gordon almost profited again with MacLean producing another fine run down the left and his pass found Gordon who’s first time shot went just wide of Blanchard’s right hand post. Shortly after that, Loco’s created another chance when substitute Andy Low’s run down the left found Clark Bain whose shot was charged down by Scott Henry and the defender’s intervention kept the score at 1-0.

The referee blew the final whistle to end a match where both teams struggled against a very strong wind.

Deveronvale: Blanchard, Rennie, Barclay (Meldrum 80), Henry, Fraser, Rodger, Cowie, Blackhall, McKenzie (Duncan 34), Noble (Henderson 65), Watt

Subs: Rae, Adams

Inverurie Locos: Reid, Park, McLean, Bain, Adams, Broadhurst, Ross, Begg, Gauld (Young 73), Gordon (Low 78), Maitland

Subs: Thomson, Scott, Bell

Ref: Caryl Potten

Attendance: 350

After the match co boss Kenny Coull said, “Coming away from Banff with three points we’re delighted. A tough one, the conditions played a big part, tough for both teams but we can’t be any happier

“In the first thirty minutes Vale were by far the better team, we weren’t at the races. We were doing the basics wrong, not picking up men, not paying attention. We got to grips in the last fifteen of the first half and second, but there was not a lot of pretty football

“We took our chance well, Neil McLean made a great run and he always causes trouble when he does that. Nicky Gordon finished well, a game of few chances”

This Saturday basement battlers Fort William make the long road to Harlaw Park as Locos look to keep their good run going and keep the pressure on the teams at the top. Kick off is at 3pm. This will hopefully have been on the back of a win in the Morrison Motors Turriff Aberdeenshire Shield Quarter Final at Huntly