Brora out of Cup
Brora Rangers 3, Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5
IN an action-packed North of Scotland Cup tie at Dudgeon Park, Brora put up a good show against a strong Inverness Caley Thistle line-up.
The SPL side took a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes thanks to goals from Andrew Shinnie and Shane Sutherland.
James Murray pulled one back in the 35th minute when his shot was helped over the line by ICT keeper Ed Baldy.
Sutherland restored Caley Thistle’s two-goal lead early in the second half but Mark Smith reduced the deficit in the 68th minute with a powerful header.
It was all-square five minutes later when Liam Baxter scored direct from a corner when the ball went in off the far post.
However, the visitors went ahead again, against the run of play, when Shinnie netted.
Brora were unlucky when a Smith header rebounded off the post but Sutherland made sure of victory with a fine solo goal near the end.
Cove Rangers 4,
Brora Rangers 0
A SECOND half collapse led to another league defeat for Brora Rangers against one of the title favourites at Allan Park.
Brora created the first real chance of the match when Evan Murray met a Chris Moir free kick but his looping header was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie.
Cove gradually fought their way into the match and they almost took the lead in the 20th minute when Kevin Webster’s corner kick crashed off the near post and out for a goal kick.
The visitors had a clear sight of goal four minutes later when Mark Smith got on the end of a Liam Baxter corner kick but his header was straight at McKenzie.
At the other end, Stuart Golabek was forced to clear a Martin Johnston effort off the goal-line.
But most of the action was at the other end. Webster was once again denied by the woodwork and the same player fired into the side netting as the home side finished the first half strongly.
Cove broke the deadlock within a minute of the re-start when Danny Milne volleyed a Stephen Jeffery cross high into the net.
The home side’s second goal had a huge slice of luck attached to it. Daniel Park’s intended cross from the left touchline deceived Brora goalkeeper Steve Martin on its way into the net.
It was all Cove now and the Brora goal survived a scare when Johnston’s header crashed off the crossbar.
Cove were awarded a penalty kick mid-way through the half when Park was fouled in the box but Martin brilliantly saved Milne’s spot kick with his feet before Johnston knocked the rebound against the upright.
In a breakaway move the ball fell for James Murray but his low drive was turned away by McKenzie.
Cove made the points safe in the 78th minute when Johnston was left unmarked to head home a Murray McCulloch cross.
Milne rounded off the scoring three minutes later when he smashed home a Park delivery.
Brora Rangers: Martin, Moir, Munro (Fuller 89), Smith, E Murray, Golabek, Sutter, MacLeod (MacKintosh 60), J Murray, Baxter, Kerr (Ross 82).
the post but Sutherland made sure of victory with a fine solo goal near the end.
BRORA will be looking for their first points of the campaign when they entertain north rivals Clachnacuddin at Dudgeon Park tomorrow (Saturday) – 3pm kick-off.
