Tom Kelly would love to crown his loan spell at Brora Rangers with the Highland League title.
The full-back, on loan from Premiership side Ross County, feels he has benefitted massively from his stint with the league leaders and hopes they can crown an impressive season with silverware.
Brora face Inverurie Locos this afternoon, with Kelly making his Cattachs debut in the reverse fixture which his side won 5-0. Three points is the first aim but Kelly has allowed himself a look at the bigger picture.
Kelly said: “The way we’re going right now, it’s looking very positive. We’re just focused on week to week – getting the three points is the aim.
“Hopefully that leads to the title and we can go and do something special in the play-offs. It would be something to put on the CV and my contract is up at the end of the season with Ross County, so hopefully that’s something that makes me a prospect in their eyes.”
County sent Kelly and fellow reserve team player James Wallace to Dudgeon Park to get game-time. Kelly made his senior debut for the Staggies in the Irn Bru Cup last season against Montrose and featured in the pre-season friendly against Carlisle, before heading on loan.
He added: “Game-time has been desperately needed for me. There’s not a lot of games in the Reserve League and my main priority, as a young player, is developing. Coming out to Brora has been a great platform and I’ve improved as a player. The quality here is massive; you can tell the aspirations of the club.
“Today’s a massive game for us. It was a dominant 5-0 win for us last time but we won’t be complacent. The aim is the same: to get three points.”
Locos have striker Chris Angus in the form of his life, netting in his last eight games and boss Andy Low reckons he has one of the best strikers in the Highland League on his hands.
He said: “Chris has been outstanding for me – without doubt he’s one of the best strikers in the Highland League. I’ve played with him and now coached him and he keeps getting better.
“All our strikers offer something different. Andy Hunter was outstanding on Saturday and has got the most assists in our team. He does a lot of the unselfish work that certainly doesn’t go unnoticed by the coaching staff.
“We’ve not managed to use Neil Gauld as much as we would like as he’s been carrying a foot injury, while Jonny Smith has had a problem with his calf. It’s great we can use guys like Chris and Andy when Neil and Jonny are out.”
Victory for Locos at Dudgeon Park would put the brakes on Brora’s charge towards the Highland League title, with Low’s side directly below them in the table.
He added: “The biggest compliment I can pay to us is Brora thinking it will be a tough game. We know how difficult it will be.”