Report

KNOCKOUT BLOW FOR GARIOCH IN SCOTTISH CUP

WEST Garioch's run of poor results continued when they crashed out of the fourth round of the Scottish Youth Challenge Cup at the hands of local rivals Colony Park.
While the controversy of a late call-off raged just a few miles down the road at Harlaw Park, Inverurie, the referee was happy for this game at Logie Durno to go ahead despite the pitch being "crisp" in places.
Garioch started the match without their influential captain Gordon Forsyth who is out with a long-term injury.
The visitors were right on the attack from the kick-off and a header from a corner went narrowly over Garioch keeper Lewis Helme's crossbar.
Five minutes later an action replay resulted in the visitors going ahead when another corner kick from the left was bulleted into the net at the near post with the Garioch defence's marking woeful.
Colony continued to press forward at every opportunity with the home side struggling to even get into the visitors' half.
Mid-way through the first half Colony went close with a header from yet another corner and with 10 minutes remaining a good hit from the edge of the box was well blocked by Helme.
The Colony Park defence was proving up to anything that the home side could muster although Garioch did manage to come more into the game in the latter stages of the first 45 minutes.
With seven minutes to go a good ball was delivered in from McRitchie on the left but there were no takers. Then two minutes later in a key moment in the match a shot from Andi Bremner struck the hand of a Colony defender in the penalty box but despite a huge appeal from the home side the referee amazingly waved play on.

Half-time 0-1

The visitors increased their lead just three minutes after the re-start. Helme could only parry an effort at goal and a Colony player followed up to double their advantage.
However, it took the home side only two minutes to pull one back when Bryce DAVIDSON capitalised on some slack Colony defending down the right and ran through to score easily.
Looking now to launch a fightback Garioch coach Sandy Bremner made a double substitution bringing on Lewis Greenhowe and Mike Ritch for Andi Bremner and Phil Reid.
However it was Colony who continued the dominant side and their number nine had a great chance to wrap things up when he was presented with an open goal but blazed the ball high over the crossbar.
Colony continued on the attack and Helme again blocked well before another strike saw the ball go narrowly wide.
Garioch were still struggling to make their mark on the game and apart from a couple of long-range efforts never really looked like making up the deficit.
With five minutes remaining the visitors wrapped the tie up when, with the home side committed forward, their substitute broke clear and in a one-on-one with Helme slipped the ball past the big keeper to make the final score 3-1 in their favour.
This was another game that Garioch will want to quickly forget as the visitors always looked that bit more hungrier and in the end deserved their win.
After the game Garioch coach Sandy Bremner said: "I'm disappointed we're out of the Scottish Cup but in these games you have to play at your best and take the chances. Hopefully it will be different this weekend."