Promising start but chance of point fades
Highland League
Turriff United 1
Brora Rangers 0
BRORA Rangers’ hopes of taking anything from this match faded after a promising start in a game of two halves at the Haughs.
The visitors were first on the attack and Steven Ross, playing his last game on-loan from Ross County before moving on to Forres Mechanics, set a chance up for Liam Baxter but his shot flew wide of the upright.
Brora goalkeeper Sean McCarthy was called into action in the 12th minute when he dealt ably with a stinging shot from Gary Harris. Brora almost broke through the Turriff defence eight minutes later when on-loan signing from Elgin City, Blair Lawrie, got on the ball but his pass to Ross was just too long. John MacKay replaced Kyle MacLean in the Brora line-up at the start of the second half but it was the home side who created the first chance.
Donald Fraser drilled the ball across goal for Harris but his first time shot was blocked by Ryan Lamont. It was mostly Turriff now and the same two players combined a few minutes later but Neil Gibb stepped in to clear the danger.
The pressure paid off, however, and Turriff took the lead in the 57th minute when Robbie Allan teed up veteran forward Jerry O’Driscoll who fired his shot into the bottom corner of the net.
McCarthy did well to keep out another effort from Harris as the home side went for a killer second.
The only other near thing before the end was a David McKenzie who curled a shot over the crossbar.
Brora Rangers – McCarthy, Finlayson (Kerr 67), Golabek, MacKintosh, Gibb, Lamont (C Ross 90), S Ross, Lawrie, MacLeod, MacLean (MacKay 46), Baxter. Unused subs – Moir, Allan.
BRORA manager Andy MacLeod has seen an improvement in his side in recent weeks.
He told the Northern Times: "The players have been working very hard in games and in training. We maybe lack a little bit of quality throughout the side to turn that effort into something more tangible.
"Last Saturday’s scoreline suggests it was close but to be fair to Turriff they had the majority of the game. But there was enough to encourage me for the rest of the season."
Looking ahead to the match against Nairn County at Dudgeon Park tomorrow (Saturday) – kick-off 3pm, MacLeod added: "I’m really looking forward to it as are the players. Nairn have set a really high standards by challenging for the league.
MacLeod revealed there has been a few coming and goings at Dudgeon Park. Evan Murray has been put out on-loan to Alness United, while Ross Grant has gone to Golspie Sutherland and James Murray has been released, and is now playing for Thurso. However, Blair Lawrie has come in on-loan from Elgin City until the end of the season.
