Highland League and Aberdeenshire Shield preview: Every Wednesday game covered as Brora Rangers and Clachnacuddin clash

Tom Kelly wants Brora Rangers to demonstrate why they are Breedon Highland League champions against Clachnacuddin.

The Cattachs are set to take on the Lilywhites at Dudgeon Park on Wednesday night.

Brora have drawn their last two league matches and sit fifth in the table with 32 points from 14 games, while opponents Clach are third on 34 points from 16 fixtures.

Although they are still in a good position, defender Kelly reckons the Sutherland side haven’t been at their best lately, and is keen to change that against their visitors from Inverness.

The 25-year-old said: “We haven’t quite been reaching the heights of last season yet, but this game gives us a chance to kickstart things again if we could get a good result.

“We’re creating chances and I don’t think we’re far away from things starting to click again.

“We want to show why we’re league champions. I think one of our strengths last season was that in the big games against other sides in the top six or top eight we had a good record.

“But so far this season we’ve let ourselves down in the big games.

“This is an opportunity to put that to bed and show people what we can do.”

Mentality key for MacPhee

Meanwhile, Allan MacPhee isn’t getting caught up in chat about Clach challenging for the title, but is eager to stay in the mix at the top of the division.

The Lilywhites strengthened their claims to be a championship contender by beating Fraserburgh on Saturday.

Winger MacPhee is aiming to follow that up with a positive result against Brora.

The 28-year-old said: “There are important games coming up and this is one of them.

“I think the mentality of the squad has been really good this season. If we keep the right mentality and can keep the performance levels up then we might show people something in terms of challenging.

“Getting something from this game would be another step in the right direction and we’ll try to keep chipping away.

“If we keep getting results we’ll see where we are later in the season.

“We’re almost at the halfway point in the season and we’re in a good position.

“We’ve got a good squad, everyone’s contributing and we’ll try to keep chipping away.”

Growing rivalry

In the last couple of seasons the intensity of the rivalry between Brora and Clach has been growing and MacPhee and Kelly believe that makes clashes between the clubs more exciting.

MacPhee said: “There’s maybe a bit more rivalry between the clubs now than there was in the past, they’ve beaten us and we’ve beaten them.

“Players have gone between both clubs and with a lot of us being from Inverness we know each other anyway.

“I’d expect it to be a feisty encounter, but it’s not over the top.”

Kelly added: “Over the last couple of years there have been some transfers between the clubs and the games have been getting tighter.

“There’s been a couple of finals between the clubs in recent years and I suppose the rivalry has been growing a wee bit.

“But that’s just another reason to look forward to the games between us.”

Elsewhere, Ryan McRitchie and Sean McCarthy are missing for Forres Mechanics, who host Deveronvale at Mosset Park. The Banffers are minus Jayden Goldie and Grant Moroney.

Lossiemouth and Nairn County will both aim to get back to winning ways when they meet at Grant Park. Stuart Knight, Ryan Stuart and Saul Phimister are out for the Coasters.

Turriff latest as attacker returns

Turriff United have recalled Reece McKeown ahead of their Breedon Highland League encounter with Buckie Thistle.

Turra travel to Victoria Park on Wednesday and attacker McKeown is back in their ranks after netting twice in three matches during a loan stint with Hermes.

Murray Cormack and Connor Grant also return, but United are still missing Glen Donald and Timi Fatona, while Ewan Clark is also out with a hamstring problem.

Manager Warren Cummings said: “We’ve recalled Reece from Hermes and he comes back with a point to prove.

“He went on loan so he could get games and get sharper. He’s had a few games and has done well and so it’s good he’s coming back to Turriff in a bit of form.

“Unfortunately Ewan has picked up a hamstring problem and we’re fearful he may miss the next couple of months.

“It’s disappointing for Ewan because he was coming back after a knee injury and we were keen to get him involved again.”

Jack Robertson was in goal for Turriff at the weekend after joining on loan from Cove Rangers and he is set to remain at the Haughs for the time being.

Cummings added: “We needed Jack on Saturday because Cammy Reid has a slight injury and Lee Herbert was suspended.

“But Jack’s going to be staying with us for the next wee while. Jack’s coming from a full-time environment and he’s here to try to gain experience in men’s football.

“He’s got good attributes and is a good young goalkeeper, so hopefully he can show that during his time with us.”

Buckie are missing on loan Aberdeen duo Theo Simpson and Aaron Cummings, but Dale Wood returns.

Keith upbeat ahead of facing Brechin

Elsewhere, Keith boss Craig Ewen says a trip to face Brechin City at Glebe Park is one of the toughest games of the campaign.

But he’s hoping the Maroons can continue their good form as they bid to spring a surprise.

Ewen’s side have won four of their last six matches in all competitions and in the league they’ve taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four outings.

He said: “We’re pleased to have been putting some points on the board of late after a difficult start to the season.

“We come into this game with a bit of confidence, but we’re well aware Brechin away is among the most difficult games in the league.

“We’ve got good players in our squad, it’s just been about trying to get them performing on a consistent basis.

“We had a good win at Inverurie last Wednesday with a similar squad to what we’ve got for this game.

“On our day we know we’re capable of good performances and hopefully we can be right at it against Brechin and get something out of the game.”

A win would take Brechin a point above Formartine United at the top of the table, but the Hedgemen are without Adam Hutchinson and Dugald Farquhar.

Banks o’ Dee and Aberdeen battle for semi-final spot

Banks o’ Dee co-manager Josh Winton hopes his side can continue their winning habit as they try to move a step closer to Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield glory.

The Breedon Highland League side face Aberdeen at Spain Park on Wednesday in the quarter-final of the Shield.

Dee have a good record in this competition, having won it twice in the last four seasons,while they have also lifted the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup twice and the R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup once in the same period.

Meanwhile, this term Winton and Paul Lawson’s side have won their last eight matches and are unbeaten in 13 games overall.

Winton said: “The cup competitions are hugely important to us and we’ll always field the strongest team we can in the cups.

“In these competitions you’re always just a few games away from a final, which are occasions to look forward to and things you want to be involved in.

“Playing at this level is a huge commitment for the players and the reward for that commitment is winning things.

“We’ve been fortunate in recent seasons to have a good run of success and when players get a taste for winning it can become a habit where they want and expect to be winning things.

“That pushes up the standards and is a good thing to have within the group.

“Playing at Spain Park we always believe we can perform at a level which will give us a chance to win any game.

“However, we’re also under no illusions that Aberdeen have been doing really well in these cup competitions.

“It should be a good spectacle and hopefully we can get through.”

What’s behind fine form?

Aberdeen were the last side to beat Banks o’ Dee when they triumphed 3-1 in the quarter-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup on August 20.

Since then Winton believes a few small adjustments have made a big difference for Dee during their unbeaten run.

He added: “There have been a few changes that have helped us since the last time we faced Aberdeen.

“We’ve tweaked the positions of a few players and we’ve had a bit more consistency in terms of team selection.

“I also think the players have started performing at a higher level and all those things added together have helped us produce better performances and put together the run we have.

“We’ve been more clinical recently and our performances have been at the level we expect so long may that continue.”

[Source: Press and Journal]