Former Ross County attacker Tony Dingwall hails Brora rangers’ newcomers hunger for Highland trophy success
Tony Dingwall believes Brora Rangers are thriving on the hunger shown by their latest signings.
The Sutherland outfit went through a significant transition in the summer with huge figures from the club’s trophy-laden past, such as Joe Malin, Martin Maclean and Dale Gillespie among eight players departing.
Those individuals have been replaced by younger performers who Dingwall reckons have quickly embraced the club’s fierce winning mentality, such as Craig MacKenzie, Connor Bunce and Ross County loanees Andy MacLeod and George Robesten.
Dingwall, himself in fine form this season, said: “We’ve gelled really well as a group despite there being a lot of changes.
“Those who have come in have done very well and, just as importantly, fitted in well in the dressing room where there are still a good number of experienced, proven winners.
“Some of the boys have also been shifted about positionally a wee bit, with the gaffer deciding to put them in different roles.
“It seems to be working at the moment, and touchwood it carries on.
“I’ve been playing centre-mid or off the front, depending on the opposition, and that’s my favourite position. I’m really enjoying it.”
Brora have already lifted the North Of Scotland Cup, are challenging in the league title race, performed admirably in the Scottish Cup before Saturday’s exit to Livingston and now face Formartine United in the Highland League Cup quarter-finals.
There is a strong desire to retain the trophy after last season’s penalty kicks triumph in the final against Fraserburgh
Dingwall, who netted a penalty in the decisive shoot-out last March, said: “We’re going well on all fronts right now, confidence is high, although we went out of the Scottish Cup at Livingston.
“Although it was kind of expected, we wanted to give a good account of ourselves.
“In the first half, we maybe sat a bit deep, but then in the second half we gave them a wee scare here and there - we had a few chances.
“The ball just wouldn’t fall for us to get that goal.
“We’re going pretty well in the league and have a couple of games in hand to close the gap on Brechin, but they are games we still have to go and win.
“This early in the season it is going well, but we’re not taking anything for granted.”
Brora have already beaten visiting Formartine twice this season, with a 6-2 triumph in the league in August and a 2-1 Scottish Cup passage in another home tie in October.
Dingwall added: “We’re definitely be hoping to win the tie, but Formartine is always a difficult game. They are a good, strong side and have been up there challenging in the league for years now.
“We’re expecting a really tough game at our ground.”
