A LATE smash and grab goal by Keith substitute Cammy Keith gave his side a point they scarcely deserved in what may turn out to be Martin Allan's last game in charge in a glorious 13 year reign.
The goal came just three minutes from the end of a
game in which the Maroons battled hard late on to salvage something having had experienced defender Derek Nicol red carded just before the break and then winger Dean Donaldson midway through the second half.
But it was a story of one side in complete domination of a game they should have had killed off long before the end and once again it is the lack of killer instinct in front of goal at home games which is killing off Locos' league challenge.
The match began with Keith looking dangerous, but it was the home side which took over. Locos' first chance ended with a wayward shot from Steven Park before the returning Neil McLean caused consternation with a cut back from the bye line and an elusive run where he beat four players before being chopped down.
Locos boss Dave Cormie had made three changes to the Scottish Cup Third Round winning side and it was one of the incomers, young striker Jack Strachan who netted the opening goal of the game in 32 minutes after this sustained spell of pressure, flicking home a right wing cross by the impressive Richie Singer.
Keith were unfortunate to be reduced to ten men right on the half time whistle, Nicol the red carded player after a tackle from behind on Singer.
The second half saw Locos completely dominate, going at their opponents right from the start. A Jack Strachan header brought a fine reaction save from Andy Shearer. Keith were still unable to pose any threat on the Locos goal, with Stuart Walker's headed attempt from a corner the only opportunity of note.
The match was to turn nasty on the hour when an extremely dangerous high challenge from Donaldson on Steven Park saw him take the second early shower of the day. A melee then ensued with almost every player involved. But at the end, only Keith pivot Kris Niddrie was yellow carded.
The match did look as if it was over as a competition when Craig Ross drove into the box, skipping past players and driving the ball low past Shearer, only to see the ball come back off the keeper's right post.
That first half goal had not been followed up by a killer second and how Locos were to pay when a straightforward through ball opened up the home defence for sub Keith to see the target at his mercy with Andy Reid coming out too far.
It was the way the game finished that angered home boss Dave Cormie. He said: "Hugely disappointed we lost a goal, the chances getting missed, that will turn for us, we're creating tons. We didn't step up our workrate, our passing became non existent, movement off the ball very limited.
"We shouldn't be losing a goal to nine men. It's not the first time we've done it. I was really disappointed with our inability to keep the ball after we'd done so well in the first half against 11 Keith players.
"We would've settled for 1-0, Keith deserved it for their work rate but otherwise anyone who watched that would say it could have been four or five for us."
Inverurie Locos: Reid, Park, Buchan, Wilson, Merriman (Neill 54), Mess, Singer (Gauld 75), McLean, Ross, Strachan, Bisset (Djahansovzi 75).
Keith: Shearer, Collins (Watt 67), McCall (Lonie 67), Still, Niddrie, Nicol, Park, Walker, Craig, Lennox (Keith 81), Donaldson.
This Saturday (December 12), Locos travel to Station Park for a tough game against Nairn County, a side they drew with at Harlaw on the opening day of the season.
• On Monday (December 7) night, the Locos Under 21 side turned a single goal half time deficit into a two goal win against Peterhead.
Centre back Roddy Mess equalised in 55 minutes before further goals in 75 and 90 by Ryan Broadhurst sealed the three points.
Inverurie Locos: Coull, Stuart Craib, Turriff, Michie, Mess, Davidson, Bonarius (Stewart 80), Steven Craib, Broadhurst, Gauld (McIntosh 80), Djhansouzi. Sub not used: Christie.
