(19/03/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE, DUDGEON PARK, BRORA)
BRORA RANGERS eased to the points against LOSSIEMOUTH at a sunny Dudgeon Park to start their Highland League Cup final preparations in style. The heavy loss at Buckie Thistle having ended their title hopes, Brora made short work of Lossie as the battle for cup final places began, with Jordan Macrae’s hat-trick the highlight of the game for the hosts.
Lossie were without the services of Ryan Farquhar, Ryan Stuart and Ross Elliott for the trip, while Niall Kennedy retained his place in the starting eleven. Brora were forced to shuffle their pack after their midweek mauling at Buckie, with goalkeeper Lenny Wilson serving a ban for a second red card for foul and abusive language on Wednesday night, although the red card which prompted his outburst has since been rescinded. Ruaridh Nicol took over the gloves for the afternoon.
Whoever Brora chose to play in goals would only rarely have had a quieter afternoon, however, as the hosts bossed proceedings from start to finish. Some early exchanges saw Lossie briefly enter Brora’s penalty area but to no effect, and once Martin Maclean slotted home from close range the game was up.
Two goals in the space of a few minutes wrapped up the points ahead of half time. Dale Gillespie celebrated a centenary of goals for Brora as he converted from the penalty spot, and Jordan Macrae bagged his first of the game, again from close range as Lossie were scythed open.
HALF TIME – BRORA RANGERS 3-0 LOSSIEMOUTH
Brora carried on where they left off, adding a fourth through Josh Meekings as he headed home a Gregor Macdonald corner nine minutes into the second half. Tony Dingwall scored his first goal in Brora colours almost immediately after, but the hosts were denied the chance to really rack up the goals by a number of fine saves from Logan Ross.
When the sixth goal arrived, however, it was worth the wait, at least for Brora fans. Andrew Macrae showed great ball control to waltz through the Lossie defence and, with the byline approaching, found enough space to dink the ball across the face of goal where Jordan Macrae was waiting to bundle it home despite the best efforts of Dean Stewart on the line. Jordan Macrae completed his hat-trick as time wound down, this time from the penalty spot.
Lossie now face a run of games against sides in the meaty party of the table, starting with a trip to Keith on Wednesday before another trek west on Saturday, this time to face Clachnacuddin.
FULL TIME – BRORA RANGERS 7-0 LOSSIEMOUTH
TEAMS:
BRORA RANGERS – Ruaridh Nicol; Tom Kelly, Gregor Macdonald, Colin Williamson (Millar Gamble (55)), Mark Nicolson (Andrew Macrae (55)), Dale Gillespie, Martin Maclean, Jordan Macrae, Tony Dingwall, Alisdair Sutherland (John Pickles (55)), Josh Meekings; UNUSED SUBS – Max Ewan
LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Fergus Edwards, Michael Weir, Lewis McAndrew, Dean Stewart, Liam Archibald, Niall Kennedy (Connor Macaulay (62)), Ross Morrison (Aleksander Matczak (78)), James Leslie, Baylee Campbell, Ross Archibald (Fraser Forbes (62)); UNUSED SUBS – Max Taylor, Oliver Kelly
GOALS:
BRORA RANGERS – Martin Maclean (19), Dale Gillespie (32 (pen)), Jordan Macrae (36, 74, 85 (pen)), Josh Meekings (54), Tony Dingwall (56)
REFEREE:
David Alexander