Celebrations as Brora write name on cup again
NORTH OF SCOTLAND CUP
Nairn County 0 Brora Rangers 3
BRORA Rangers got their hands on the North of Scotland Cup for the first time in more than 22 years thanks to a power display against Nairn County in Saturday’s final at Grant Street Park.
The Sutherland side got off to a flyer when Zander Sutherland scored after just 70 seconds and Richie Hart added a second as Brora took a firm grip on the game.
Martin MacLean put the icing on the cake when he scored early in the second half as Brora, roared on by a huge travelling support, made sure there was no way back for the Wee County.
Brora took an early lead when skipper Steven MacKay cut in from the left and his precision pass found Sutherland who drilled the ball under the body of Nairn goalkeeper Calum Donaldson.
At the other end Nairn’s Conor Gethins tested Joe Malin from the edge of the 18-yard box but the Brora keeper managed to parry the shot and Scott Houston swept the rebound clear.
But most of the action was at the other end and Andrew Greig and Sutherland both had efforts on goal as Brora looked to add to their lead.
The pressure paid off in the 17th minute when MacKay teed the ball up for Hart just inside the area and the experienced midfielder drilled the ball out of Donaldson’s reach into the corner of the net.
Nairn were far from out of it, however, and Robbie Duncanson was not far away with a shot which flew narrowly over Malin’s crossbar.
Gregg Main then flashed an effort inches wide of Malin’s right-hand post as Nairn tried desperately to get a foothold on the match.
Gethins, Nairn’s most effective player, looked sure to pull one back just before the break when he got behind the Brora defence. His delicate chip looked destined for the far corner of the net but fortunately for Brora the ball drifted wide of Malin’s right-hand post.
The Nairn skipper had the first chance of the second half when his free kick, from the edge of the 18-yard box, dipped just over the crossbar.
But the tie was all but done and dusted in the 57th minute when Hart broke from the half-way line and spread the ball wide to MacLean who took one touch and rifled the ball into the bottom corner.
Brora boss Davie Kirkwood said: “We were quietly confident going into the final, because when these boys put in the hard work their ability shines through.
“We’ve been in the doldrums in recent years but we’ve broken that barrier now – the players know what it is like to be winners.”
On a personal note, Kirkwood added: “This is a day I will cherish because it is the first one I’ve won as a manager in my own right. I’ve won cups as a player and a coach, but this is the first one as a manager – hopefully it won’t be the last.”
Martin MacLean, who scored Brora’s killer third goal, said: “Hopefully there are more days like this. You can see how much it means to all these fans. Brora have been struggling the last few years so it was a good day for them, they deserve it. The noise they made was tremendous.”
Brora: Malin, Hind, D MacKay, Tokely, Houston, Morrison, MacLean (J Ross 77), Hart, Sutherland (Baxter 86), S MacKay, Greig (Bruce). Subs not used – Campbell, Ridgers.