INVERURIE Locos go into this Saturday's (October 18) Challenge Cup Final against Cove Rangers on the back of six league wins out of six, with another stunning display from Mark Smith, who laid on two out of the three goals for his side.

Locos were looking dangerous from the off as a stream of attacks were only subdued by frustrating offside calls. In 15 minutes it seemed that Danny Milne had evaded the Fraserburgh defence fairly after a Mark Smith shot was held up, but as the striker attempted to work his way around keeper Andrew Dickinson, the ball was bravely smothered.

Less than a minute later, young Dickinson proved that is moment of courage wasn't a one-off as he denied Neil Gauld by rushing to the strikers feet to collect an awkward ball.

The away side's only attempt of note form the opening 45 was a Michael Stephen shot from a tight angle, with keeper Andy Reid collecting the ball at the near post as the Broch failed to provide any real threat.

The responsibility came to captain Tommy Wilson to find the back of the net on the stroke of half time. A miscued clearance in the heart of the box fell to Mark Smith at the back post. The midfielder headed the ball down to Wilson who poked the ball under the keeper.

Seconds later in similar fashion it was 2-0 as Smith found himself provider yet again at the back post. The man of the match drove a deep cross into the box for Neil Gauld to put the ball into the back of the net.

Fraserburgh came back into the game and with the help of a brilliant William West strike on 57 minutes they halved the deficit. From the edge of the box, the midfielder picked his spot perfectly before firing the ball straight into the top corner of the net.

Their hopes were dashed with five minutes left. Half time substitute Richie Singer provided the deep cross to Neil McLean at the back post which found the winger with enough space to force the ball into the net and sustained the 100 per cent record.

But it was at a cost, key defender Steven Park carried off with a serious ankle injury. Despite needing ice packs, some considerable swelling and potential ligament damage, the big man will be doing his utmost to be fit for the big day.

Inverurie Locos: Reid, Pirie, Buchan, Wilson, Park (Murray 46), Simpson, Ross, Smith, Milne (Singer 46), Gauld (Coull 71), McLean.
Fraserburgh: Dickinson, Ralph, McBride, N. Main (Elrick 55), Hay, Beagrie, Wemyss (Hale 68), West, S. Main (Noble 88), Johnston, Stephen.

Rather than be happy with another win boss Dave Cormie looked back on the proceedings with some regret.

He said: "I am really disappointed with the performance but delighted to get the three points. In the last 10-15 minutes I felt it was heading for a 2-2 draw, the Broch were continually going forward. Michael Stephen was holding the ball in well, Steven Main tracking down the left flank, it looked like they'd open us up.

"Credit to my goalkeeper and my twice reshaped defensive unit, they held out. That gave us time to create chances ourselves thankfully Neil McLean popped up and that gave us some breathing space.

"Regarding Steven Park's injury just before half time, I thought a Broch player left a foot in but credit to Steven he said he twisted it so apologies to the Broch. It was a twist on Steven's ankle which is obviously a bigger concern.

"Danny Milne was carrying one or two knocks, he was absolutely electric on Wednesday with his movement and ability to never give up on anything. Today for 45 minutes he was carrying the knocks and never did himself justice. It didn't get much better in the second half, it was pretty inept but 3-1 against the Broch I'd take any day."

He added: "I don't think we dug it out, we just got a couple of breaks that gave us a result. The players need to realise throughout the season we may get several results like that.

"We will speak about it at training but I'd like to see a far better reaction especially after we came in at half time and had a chat about things because it didn't change in the second half.

"We gave away the early goal that put us on the back foot. It's something we need to sort out, the good news is we are not sorting it out after a defeat but a bad performance."

Turning his attention to the big game, Cormie said: "Both sides are getting away from the pressures of collecting league points. Cove are playing with confidence, they are full of talent.Both John Sheran and myself have match winners all over the park.

"I think we have enough players to cause them problems on the day let's hope it is a cracking match."

As well as Park and Milne, Cormie will hope Graeme Stewart can make a dramatic recovery. Ross McWilliam comes back into the pool after a stomach bug but a big loss will be Kenny Coull who was not signed in time for the competition starting. Andrew Bisset has had a virus this week and is another doubt.

It is going to be a massive fortnight for Inverurie Locos with their Scottish Cup Second Round meeting with Banks O'Dee coming up a week on Saturday but first of all is their first ever SFA Challenge Cup Final and locking horns again with old rivals Cove Rangers.

For consistent defender Scott Buchan, it will be a case of facing an old club two weeks in a row. And for the left sider who was formerly on the books of Forfar and Dundee United, the games are coming thick and fast.

He said: "The concentration is on each game as it comes up; you prepare for each one on its own. There have been big games for us for I don't know how many weeks now, we will keep churning out the wins hopefully, long may it continue.

"Both teams are on form. Cove slipped up a wee bit at Clach but as far as the league is concerned, there is a long way to go, the game couldn't be set up better."

With 14 goals scored in their past four outings, Locos go in confident, although they were brought back down to earth by boss Dave Cormie, who was not happy with the performance against Fraserburgh. Buchan says keeping up the tempo week in week out is difficult.

"You can never play every single week we know that but at the end of the day it's all about getting three points.

"We're hoping all our injuries clear up including Steven Park. Our old rivals Cove haven't beaten us for a while and I'm sure they'll be well motivated to do so. With so many players up against their former team it will be a big occasion.

"We are good friends with a lot of them, obviously Jamie Watt - we'll need to keep him quiet. He scored again the other night. There'll be good fun and banter in the lead up but it'll be serious tuff one the pitch. I'm sure we'll have an enjoyable pint after it all."