Manager says Brora face ‘12 cup finals’ in bid for Highland League title
Brora Rangers are gearing up for “12 cup finals” as they look to maintain their push for the Highland League title in the closing months of the campaign.
The Cattachs reclaimed top spot on Saturday by beating Wick Academy 3-0 in the far north derby at Harmsworth Park while Brechin City were being held to a 2-2 draw by Banks O’ Dee.
Brora are ahead of Brechin on goal difference, with City having a game in hand.
Brora manager Steven Mackay is sure there will be more “twists and turns” before the end of the season and he says third-placed Banks O’ Dee are very much in contention too.
“We’ve got 12 games left in the league campaign, 12 games which will be very tough,” Mackay said post-match at Wick. “We need to view them individually as 12 cup finals.
“There will be more twists and turns. We just need to make sure we take care of our own business as best we can and see where it takes us.”
Brora went ahead after nine minutes at Harmsworth Park through a Connor Bunce penalty after he was adjudged to have been tripped in the box.
Matthew Wright doubled their lead on 31 minutes when he turned the ball in from close range, and Wright slammed in his second of the afternoon deep in stoppage time.
Mackay said: “I expected it to be close, and I said that to the boys before the game – irrespective of form, irrespective of league standings, historically games up here are tough and they’re close and they’re fiercely contested.
“I didn’t think it was a great spectacle, and the pitch didn’t help. I’m happy with how we stuck to our task and happy with how we competed.
“We got off to a great start, which obviously settled us. But Wick, particularly in the second half, grew into the game and Cammy [Mackay] had a fantastic save from a header to palm it away.
“If that goes in then it could have been interesting to see how we reacted, but thankfully it didn’t.
“We got the clean sheet and then we capped off the performance with the third goal. So, yes, it was a satisfactory afternoon.”
Brora’s last dozen league fixtures begin with a trip to Turriff United this weekend.
Turriff had racked up six wins and a draw in their previous seven league outings before going down 2-1 to Deveronvale on Saturday.
Mackay said: “They’ve been on a good run. It’s a tough place to go as well.”
