Hat-trick from Sutherland but Brora still lose
Brora Rangers 3 v 4 Nairn County
A HAT-TRICK from Zander Sutherland on his Brora Rangers debut proved to be in vain as Nairn County fought back to claim all three points in a seven-goal thriller at Dudgeon Park last Saturday.
Sutherland, who had signed a three-year deal with the Sutherland club last week, made a sensational start to his Brora career with three goals in the first 50 minutes. However, Sutherland was upstaged by Nairn’s Craig MacMillan who netted two late goals to clinch the points for the visitors.
Nairn’s Connor Gethins fired the first chance over in the fourth minute, while at the other end Steven MacKay got on the end of a curler from Sutherland but his header bobbled past the upright. Nairn had a great chance to take the lead in the 24th minute when John Cameron raced on to a defence splitting pass but his shot clipped the outside of the post.
However, Brora went straight up the park and grabbed the opener. Nairn keeper Callum Donaldson failed to hold a stinging shot from Stuart Golabek and Sutherland pounced to stab the ball into the corner of the net.
Sutherland was on target again just four minutes later when he scored from a similar position after MacKay picked him out at the back post.
Nairn were thrown a lifeline a minute from the break when Gethins was adjudged to have been impeded just inside the area. Referee Graham Fraser immediately pointed to the spot and Gethins made no mistake from 12 yards.
However, it looked all over as a contest when Sutherland completed his hat-trick in the 48th minute.
Hart and MacKay combined in the build up and Sutherland lashed the ball across the bows of Donaldson and into the far corner.
Nairn were right back in contention seven minutes later when former Brora forward Cameron lashed the ball home following a corner kick.
The introduction of MacMillan was to seal Brora’s fate. The substitute was only seven minutes on the pitch when he scored with a superb left foot volley.
The visitors grabbed the winner in the final minute when a Gethins’ free kick was knocked back across goal by Sean Webb and MacMillan blasted home from close range.
Brora manager, Davie Kirkwood was less than impressed with his side’s second half display. He told the Northern Times: "That hurt more than the 6-0 result against Nairn (earlier in the season). It’s just not good enough. There are players we want to get on the ball and play but when it comes to the nitty gritty in the last 20/30 minutes of a game they are found wanting.
"At 3-1 the brand of football we were playing was excellent but when you ask players to dig deep some of them just haven’t got it."
He added: "I’ve got to try and get players in who are going to play the football we want but are also winners. I don’t think we have enough of them at the moment." Brora’s next match is against Clachnacuddin at Grant Street Park tomorrow (Saturday) – kick-off 3pm.
Brora – Ridgers, Houston, Goalbek, Grant, Lamb, MacLean, Gillespie, Hart, MacKay, Sutherland, Greig (Campbell 85). Subs not used – Baxter, Duncan, Ross, Allan.
Brora have been drawn at home to Wick Academy in the second round of the Breedon Aggregates Highland League Cup. The tie is due to be played at Dudgeon Park on Saturday, March 16.