Highland League and Cup results round-up: Brora Rangers beat Buckie Thistle with 10 men

Steven Mackay hailed an important victory for Brora Rangers who showcased their champion qualities to beat Buckie Thistle despite playing with 10 men for three quarters of the contest.

The Cattachs triumphed 4-1 at a blustery Dudgeon Park in an incident-packed encounter to move up to second in the Breedon Highland League table.

Shane Sutherland put the hosts ahead, before Max Ewan was sent off midway through the first half by referee Ewan Pow.

The numerical disadvantage didn’t stop Sutherland netting twice more to complete his hat-trick, which gave Brora a three-goal half-time lead.

Josh Peters pulled one back for the Jags after the break and was later sent off in stoppage time, after Aidan Wilson had bagged Brora’s fourth.

The reigning champions are three points behind leaders Formartine United with two games in hand.

Manager Mackay said: “I thought we were excellent. Everyone contributed in terms of defence, especially in the second half, and going forward I thought we were dangerous, particularly in the first half.

“It was a tricky game made even trickier by the conditions and by going down to 10 men so early.

“But we reacted really well, I’m thrilled with that and how we saw the game out. It’s an important victory for us and one we deserved.”

Sutherland makes his mark

Brora had the wind behind them in the first period and went ahead in the 20th minute.

Darryl McHardy was short with a header back to goalkeeper Theo Simpson, which let Tony Dingwall in and he unselfishly squared the ball to give Sutherland a tap in.

Three minutes later Ewan received his marching orders after a collision with Innes McKay, who had played the ball first, as the pair went in for a 50-50 challenge.

While referee Pow was quick to show the red card, both managers disagreed with the call.

Mackay said: “Innes came through the ball and won it, Max would never go into a tackle trying to hurt someone and he just dangled a leg.

“I don’t think anyone claimed for a red card, it’s a free-kick and probably a yellow card, no way for me was it a red card.”

Buckie boss Lewis MacKinnon added: “It’s not a red card, he (Ewan) is going for the ball.”

Just after the half hour mark Brora doubled their lead. Buckie were caught trying to play out from the back and after Kevin Fraser had fouled James Wallace, Dingwall’s free-kick from the right was headed home by the unmarked Sutherland.

The Cattachs looked a threat every time they came forward and their third arrived on 35 minutes.

Thistle could, and maybe should, have scored initially when Peters capitalised on a Ross Draper mistake on the right, but couldn’t pick out team-mates Aaron Cummings and Marcus Goodall in the box.

Brora cleared to Sutherland on halfway and he danced past McHardy and McKay before slotting beyond Simpson to complete his hat-trick.

Jags respond but it’s not enough

Six minutes into the second half Buckie did pull a goal back when Peters’ snap-shot from the edge of the box nestled in the bottom left corner.

However, the Jags’ play became increasingly disjointed after that and Brora’s defence dealt with what was thrown at them.

Although, the visitors were appealing for another red card in the 78th minute when Shae Keogh, who was the Cattachs’ last covering defender, handled as Buckie tried to get in behind, but referee Pow opted for a yellow card.

In the 89th minute Dingwall sent sub Wilson through on goal to blast home Brora’s fourth, then in the third minute of stoppage time Peters – who had been booked for dissent in the aftermath of the Keogh incident – received a second yellow for a challenge on Draper.

Bosses in agreement on big calls

Defeat ends Buckie’s nine-match unbeaten run in the league that stretched back to September 13.

MacKinnon said: “I’m disappointed with the decision to send Josh off because he barely touched Ross Draper and I thought it was harsh.

“Josh got his first booking for contesting a decision which I thought was a clear sending off because it was handball when our player was through on goal and when Josh is sent off it comes back to that first decision.

“I’m not making excuses – the referee’s decisions had no impact on the scoreline – but as a spectacle it’s poor.

“I’m really disappointed because we’re better than that showing.

“We’re a good team and can compete with anyone on our day, but we seem to have a blip in us.

“When things go against us at times we seem to crumble, which is terrible to say because we’ve got experienced players who need to do better.”

Mackay also felt the Keogh and Peters incidents could have been handled differently.

He added: “I don’t think there was any need to give Josh a red card, it doesn’t warrant it.

“Shae’s could have been a red card. I wouldn’t have had any complaints about it because he was last man and does he stop a goalscoring opportunity? Possibly.”

Huntly 2-0 Deveronvale

Graeme Stewart made a winning start as Huntly manager by defeating Deveronvale at Christie Park.

The former Buckie boss was appointed by the Black and Golds on January 4, but has had to wait 20 days for his first game because of recent poor weather.

Michael Clark got Huntly’s opener in the first half and Callum Murray added a late second.

Forres Mechanics 1-1 Banks o’ Dee

Forres Mechanics and Banks o’ Dee shared the spoils at Mosset Park.

The Can-Cans handed a debut to attacker Ben Gardiner, who joined on loan from Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Friday. Dee also had a debutant in midfielder Lewis Lorimer, who has been signed on loan from Forfar Athletic.

The visitors took an early lead through Liam Duell, but Gardiner restored parity after the interval. Duell was sent off late on, but it finished level.

Highland League Cup – Brechin City 3-2 Nairn County

Brechin City edged past Nairn County to reach the semi-final of the R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup in the first match of Andy Kirk’s second spell as manager.

The game, which was moved to Cove’s Balmoral Stadium to ensure it was played, kicked off at 3.45pm and Fraser Dingwall gave the Wee County the lead.

However, Dingwall then had a hand in the Hedgemen’s equaliser when he fouled Fraser MacLeod inside the penalty area, which allowed Grady McGrath to score from the spot.

Cillian Sheridan gave Brechin the lead, but Andrew Greig’s equaliser for Nairn meant it looked like penalties would be required to decide the outcome, only for Mitchell Findlay to grab a late winner to set up a last four tie for City against Turriff United at the Haughs.

Meanwhile, Formartine United v Clachnacuddin, Turriff United v Wick Academy, Rothes v Fraserburgh and Keith v Strathspey Thistle were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

[Source: Press and Journal]