FROM Challenge Cup success to the hunt for a Homecoming Scottish Cup Third Round place, Inverurie Locos were never going to be in the mood for entertaining thoughts of a slip-up and they duly ended Banks O'Dee's short run in the competition.

Home boss Dave Cormie, having studied his opponents in action recently, was delighted his homework paid dividends: "It was a job we had to do and we did it as a very professional job. The goals came bang on the right times, start of first half and start of second half to take the wind out of their sails.

"We knew they'd come back into it and they did by hittingthe post and bar but having watched them recently nothing about them surprised me, I knew they'd have a chance. I couldn't have been happier with the outcome.

"Bringing in Dave Christie for our regular keeper Andy Reid was a concern because of the weather conditions and although he had a few hairy moments, he dealt comfortably with what was thrown at him.

"Steven Park had a reaction to playing in the Cup Final and with a ligament injury we were taking no chances of losing him for a few months so we left him out. Greig Pirie came I and did alright. He is a big strong lad who has also been injured and will get injuries because of his size."

Cormie added: "As for the strikers I started with Kenny Coull and Craig Ross for their strength and it worked. Danny Milne and Neil Gauld played together against Fraserburgh on another windy day and also were our partnership for the Cup Final so we gave them a rest and got the benefit of their contributions later in the game.

"We still don't know when Scott Michie will come back as we have not yet had a correct diagnosis of what's wrong so we are managing to get the right blends according to each task we face."

The home side started with a gift from Scott Forbes. With the wind gusting, Richie Singer's corner saw the Dee keeper drop the ball under pressure from Craig Ross into the back of the net.

Midway through the half it was two as they sliced the Dee defence open with a magnificent flowing move, finished by in form Mark Smith. An interchange with Tommy Wilson and Kenny Coull saw a long curling crossfield pass fall into the path of Smith before he advanced into the box and fired the ball across goal into the back of the net.

Banks O'Dee finally began to play themselves into the match and with the final ten minutes of the half approaching were unlucky to not have drawn the match level or indeed taken the lead. Richard Scaife was just off target twice in two minutes after cleverly using the gusting wind to curl his shots goalwards.

It even took the services of Mark Simpson and the Locos woodwork to deny the away side vital goals with Simpson heading a powerful Brownhill strike off the line then Steve Craib a minute later seeing his low driven shot denied by the near post.

Craig Ross made it three right at the start of the second half with an inch perfect lob on the edge of the box after running clear of his opponents.

The Spain Parkers reduced the leeway in 77 minutes. Ritchie Taylor found himself in the right place to bundle Kevin Whyte's cross into the back of the net to give an inkling of hope.

Substitute Danny Milne, just minutes after coming onto the pitch, then scored two goals in two minutes. He created a yard of space for himself before dispatching the ball into the right corner of the net leaving Forbes with no chance. Milne's second was a gift from winger Neil McLean who danced his way through the Dee defence before drawing the keeper out of position and laying the ball across for Milne to tap into the open goal.

Visiting boss Gary Welsh had no complaints about the result: "We hit the bar and post and they'd a shot cleared off the line and while three or four players were exceptional, another three or four did not perform to their full potential.

"The fourth and fifth goals they scored were exceptional and we could do nothing about that. The fourth came at the end of four very incisive passes. We were playing a very good side and I think they have the potential to win the league."

The theme of "We'll Meet Again" could potentially be on quicker than expected. Many pundits are now forecasting Dee will make a bid to join the SHFL ranks. They demolished Huntly 6-1 on Tuesday night in their Morrison Motors Turriff Aberdeenshire Shield semi and for their first ever Shire Final will play the winners of the other semi on October 29. It will either be Cove or Locos.

Inverurie Locos: Reid, Stewart, Buchan, Wilson, Pirie, Simpson, Singer (Gauld 60), Smith (Murray 87), Coull (Milne 64), Ross, McLean.
Banks O'Dee: Forbes, G. MacNamee, Turnbull (Reid 55), Craib, Corser, Scaife, Stainer, Whyte, Taylor, Carstairs, Brownhill.

Meanwhile, the draw for the Scottish Cup Third Round on Monday (October 27) could hardly have been kinder to the Highland League teams still in the competition with the on-form Locos being handed a third home tie in a row, this time facing the winners of the Civil Service Strollers v Vale of Leithen tie.

The two teams currently are sitting near the bottom of the East of Scotland First Division and will play their tie this Saturday, after high winds put paid to the game on October 25.

Forres Mechanics and Keith who replay at Mosset Park, will go head to head for the chance to take on East of Scotland League leaders Dalbeattie Star at home.

Clachnacuddin are also at home for the third time in succession, welcoming Third Division high flyers Stenhousemuir, a team that lost their first league game of the season at Borough Briggs eight days ago against an Elgin City side under the charge of former Clach boss Robbie Williamson.

Wick Academy and Edinburgh City will play off at Harmsworth Park with the winner gaining home advantage against the team at the top of the Second Division, Brechin City, who have gained 25 points from their first 11 games and remain unbeaten on the road.

The toughest tie of the round from an SHFL perspective is undoubtedly Airdrie United v Cove Rangers. Kenny Black's men sit in seventh place in the First Division table.