A GOAL either side of half time was sufficient for Inverurie Locos as they got their title challenge back on track after losing their past two league games without scoring.
It was that lack of killer instinct which boss Dave Cormie pointed out ah
ead of the weekend's big Scottish Cup meeting with Stranraer at Harlaw Park.
He said: "It has been well highlighted we've not been finding the net so readily of late and we needed to convert some of Ritchie Singer's crosses which were very inviting. I am pleased with the result in the end though because there are no easy games now in the Highland League.
"Fort William were extremely well organised and vastly improved from our meetings last season. However getting the wee break and going one up just before half time was very important in the winning of the game."
In a match which lacked regular goalmouth action at either end, the Inverurie side took the lead in 40 minutes.
Singer worked his way through one side of the Fort defence before curling the ball low across the goal area, where Ryan Broadhurst had the easy job of passing the ball into the net.
A harmless long ball from keeper Andy Reid set up the second killer goal. Despite protests for offside by the visiting players, the consistent Craig Ross timed his run right to slot the ball under the advancing John Campbell.
Inverurie Locos: Reid, Neill (Cormie 65), Buchan, Wilson, Park, Merriman, Singer, Bisset, Broadhurst (Gauld 65), Ross, McLean. Subs not used: Djahansovzi, Mess, Morrison.
Fort William: Campbell, Hendry, Martin, Shields, Bamber, Kerr (MacGillivary 63), Haggerty, S Ellis, Hewitt (Milligan 63), Gillespie, Ferguson (Bouchnak 73). Sub not used: McLeod.
It was a much narrower margin of victory when a big win would have been welcome going into the Stranraer game but boss Dave Cormie was quick to praise the club's loyal following.
"Through what has been a difficult time for us I have to say our supporters have been superb. We have often felt it better to be playing away from home but that has changed dramatically with our fans at home being far more vocal and I speak for the players when I say they are really appreciative," he said.
"We have been extremely lucky to get good reports on our opponents and their current form but we cannot read too much into these. Like ourselves, Stranraer want to make the Active Nation Scottish Cup a lucrative competition but as I say we are delighted to be at home. It promises to be a cracking tie.
"Any half chances coming along need to be taken. The Fort game was a good example of an encounter where you get four or five good chances before the opener comes in 40 minutes but opportunities will not come so readily in the Cup tie."
Meanwhile, Locos go into Saturday's Second Round tie with Stranraer boosted by the news that striker Neil Gauld has had his contract extended through to Summer 2013.
The 22 year old was joint SHFL top scorer with his now departed colleague Danny Milne and sees no reason why he cannot go on to another big haul although the local plumber himself is his own worst critic.
He said: "Although I've got seven goals so far this season I'm not best pleased with my performances as I know I can do better but it will come. I've not started as well as I'd like and maybe that's part and parcel of so many people leaving the club.
"I feel we're starting to get settled again after the upheaval and I'm sure I'll strike up new partnerships with the players left in the front positions at the club."
So what better place to start than Harlaw Park this weekend as Division Three opposition come calling: "I'm delighted the contract thing is all sorted out before this game. Stranraer are rightly favourites because they're a Division above us but in any SHFL v SFL clash you have to look at it as a case of fancying our chances if we all play well as a team on the day. As a squad we are confident we can win this one and cause what many will see as an upset."
As a youngster who came through the Colony ranks, Gauld netted 36 goals under the leadership of current boss Dave Cormie in the juniors at Formartine Utd. His dream move to Locos in Summer 2006 under John Gardiner was to end shortly after the arrival of Kevin Will, Jamie Watt having arrived in the Garioch as a second diminutive striker as the options up front limited his chances to be a first team regular.
Having netted a handful of goals in the Red and Black before moving along the A96, "Gauldy" was to net 18 in 32 squad appearances at Huntly where his pace and ability to sneak into the tightest of spaces made him a nightmare for defenders to deal with.
Cormie remembers the player finding the net as soon as he started playing football.
"When I was Locos boss in the junior days I spotted Neil sticking the goals away playing for Market Place in school tournaments and he's gone on from there. He's been prolific for me at Formartine, Huntly and Locos and he is what I class as a natural goalscorer.
"He is maybe not putting away all the chances he normally does right now but it's over the season he'll be judged and I feel it's only a matter of time before he hits top form again."
