Ally Macdonald speaking about becoming a cup winning manager with Brora Rangers
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ALLY MACDONALD says Brora Rangers will look to use their Highland League Cup win as inspiration to mount a title challenge in the Highland League next season.
The Cattachs won a trophy for the third season in a row when they lifted the Highland League Cup after defeating Fraserburgh at Harlaw Park in Inverurie last Saturday.
But Brora had to come from behind when Fraserburgh took the lead after 29 minutes.
Aiden Sopel’s pass found Scott Barbour, who from 25-yards-out fired a thunderous effort past Malin into the bottom right corner.
But Brora Rangers fought back and equalised 12 minutes into the second half when Paul Brindle’s pass found Tom Kelly who from 10-yards out scored.
Neither team could find a winner in extra time before Brora Rangers prevailed in the shoot-out 6-5.
MacDonald said it was a proud moment to become a cup winning manager, but says they must use it to mount a Highland League title challenge next season.
Speaking about winning the cup, he said: “It was brilliant.
“I said after the game you put a lot time and effort into management and I maybe underestimated the time and commitment that goes into part time management.
“There is an argument that it is a full time job, when you are at a club like Brora that has been successful there are expectations that you have to keep winning, and being able to continue that form, is extremely important to me.
“But we put that pressure on ourselves to go and do that ourselves too.
“The importance of winning the cup compared to finishing second or third, you would take the cup.
“But at the same time we need to have the personal pride to keep going.
“Next year, we want to make sure it is the league we’re winning. The cups are something we want to make sure we are right up there in, but at this stage of the season, the carrot is in the league.”
Brora Rangers return to action on Saturday when they hope to take on Wick Academy at Dudgeon Park.
Macdonald says Brora Rangers will look to finish as high up the table as possible, and says his team should be up for a north derby.
“We have seven games in April and we will try to remain positive, it is frustrating and getting that personal pride.”
It is a big derby, and Wick will be looking at that match and thinking let’s go and get a big scalp against top teams, they will come full of confidence, we need to make sure we treat it as the derby is.
“You are almost looking at what time of the year the game is at, it is refreshing to have it this time of the year.”
