INVERURIE Locos almost certainly slipped out of title contention on Saturday (March 8) after Wick Academy completed a memorable League double, having beaten them in early season when Locos were League leaders.

It was a misjudgement by keeper Paul Jarvie which effectively ensured the full points stayed in Wick. Jarvie failed to hold a high, hanging cross from Gary Manson and Wick skipper Martin Gunn was on hand to accept the gift and clinch a 2-1 win for the home side.

It was an outcome which left boss Dave Cormie shellshocked: "I'm gutted for a couple of reasons. We had to win all eight games that we had remaining to even be in with a chance of putting real pressure on the other leading teams.

"This is no disrespect to Wick Academy, but we should be good enough to come up here and take our chances when they come."

The game only went ahead after referee Jason Hasson insisted on a late pitch inspection. There had been heavy rain for a spell in the morning, but the awkward, swirling wind was to prove more of a factor than any lying water on the pitch.

Flu robbed Locos of the services of skipper Tommy Wilson but the other pre-match doubts were all in the 16 and there was a welcome return for fans' favourite Kenny Coull after a spell working abroad. Turriff United's Dave McKenzie, a Thurso native and former primary school friend of Scorries skipper Martin Gunn, came into the 3-5-2 formation as a trialist.

Locos attacked up the Harmsworth slope. Richie Singer and Neil Gauld combined on the left to set up a chance for Scott Michie, whose effort crept just wide.

It was Academy who struck first in the 11th minute. Craig Shearer burst through a crowd of players on the edge of the box and tucked the ball low under Jarvie.

Locos however looked the more dangerous side as balls played in from the wide areas caused some anxious moments. Neil McLean threaded a neat pass through to Scott Michie in the inside-left channel but Locos' top scorer was well tackled by Andrew MacLeod, who was to have an outstanding game alongside Alan Sinclair at the heart of the Wick defence.

Midway through the half the home side broke upfield and Gary Manson found room for a shot at goal but it went straight to Jarvie.

Locos responded within a minute with the equaliser from Neil Gauld. He poked the ball home from close range after Wick keeper James More was unable to hold a shot from Craig Ross.

Ross tried his luck again in 36 minutes with a cross-cum-shot from the right that flew just beyond the junction of post and bar.

At the other end, the livewire Richard Macadie carved out an opening for Gunn who was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Scott Buchan. Inverurie attacked again and Michie, racing on to a through ball, looked set to outpace MacLeod - but the Academy defender had other ideas and he put in a well-timed challenge.

Both sides went for it with half time looming. Michie saw a shot saved by More, then Macadie swung over a cross from the Wick right and Gary Farquhar's first-time effort went just wide of Jarvie's left-hand post. There was still time for one more chance as Gauld created an opening for the unmarked Michie directly in front of goal, but his shot was touched over by More.

A spell of visiting pressure ensued, with a Singer shot smacking off the face of the crossbar in 49 minutes.

The decisive moment came on the hour mark. Alan Sinclair and Martin Gunn were involved in a move which saw the ball coming out to Manson wide on the left. His lofted cross into the middle of the penalty box looked as if it would be easy for Jarvie to deal with, but he let the ball slip through his hands and Martin Gunn was there to take advantage. The wind seemed to be a major factor, seemingly deceiving the former Dundee United custodian.

There chances at both ends now. Craig Ross fired a dipping shot just over the bar and there was a similar scenario at the other end as Gunn's attempt drifted too high. McKenzie split the home defence with a through ball to Michie in the danger zone, but his shot was well held by More.

Gunn could have put the issue beyond doubt in 83 minutes when he was presented with a shooting opportunity in acres of space but he blasted the ball over the top.

Throughout the second half Buchan's viciously swerving crosses had looked like Locos' best hope of taking something from the game, but the defence held firm and the Scorries were able to celebrate their fifth win in seven matches since the turn of the year, Cove Rangers the only team to beat them in that spell. On the other hand Locos stutter along.

Cormie was full of praise for his team's opponents: "I thought Wick Academy deserved to get out of the game what they did. They were composed, they played good football, they created a number of chances, but if you took their chances and multiplied them by six I think that was the number of chances that we passed up.

"The error for the second goal obviously was the killer. Goalkeepers make mistakes; by the same token at the other end we could have scored several. On another day our centre-forward Scott Michie could have had a hat-trick - but he didn't score.

"The bottom line is we weren't good enough in front of goal and we weren't good enough twice when Wick came forward. I think Wick probably came forward eight times during the game and scored twice.

"It was disappointing that Tommy Wilson called off with flu, having spent that last three days in bed. David McKenzie had been brought in to complement Tommy's style of play. The fact that Tommy called off meant we ended up playing Dave in a formation we wouldn't normally play, 3-5-2. But I think Dave McKenzie showed that at this level of football he's more than capable of holding his own."

Wick Academy: More, Shaun Sinclair (Lamb 46), Macleod, Stuart Sinclair, Alan Sinclair, Shearer, Gunn, Farquhar, McKiddie, Manson, Macadie. Subs: Coghill, McNab, Mackenzie, Clyne.

Inverurie Locos: Jarvie, McKenzie, Buchan, Ross, Simpson, Park, Singer (Coull 74), McLean, Michie, Gauld, McWilliam(Milne 67). Subs: Mess, Graham, Youngson.