Brora Rangers went down 2-0 to Championship side Dundee in their Betfred Cup encounter at Dudgeon Park.
The Cattachs put in another strong display against full-time opposition following their 3-1 loss to Hibernian at Easter Road on Wednesday, however first-half goals by Graham Dorrans and Danny Mullen ensured there would be no upset.
Brora manager Steven Mackay named the same team which had run Premiership side Hibs close. Although the Cattachs started brightly, with Ally MacDonald seeing a dangerous delivery knocked behind by Jordon Forster, they fell behind after 10 minutes.
Jordan Marshall cut the ball back following a move down the left, which fell for Dorrans whose strike from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Colin Williamson to beat Joe Malin.
Dundee twice came close through debutant Charlie Adam, with the vastly experienced former Scotland international forcing a fine save from Malin with a free-kick, before flashing a header over from Jordan McGhee’s deep cross.
Brora threatened through Dale Gillespie’s free kick, which was comfortably held by Jack Hamilton, however the Dark Blues doubled their advantage just a minute later. Max Anderson drifted in from the right before clipping a ball to the near post, which was neatly turned home by Mullen.
Brora ended the half strongly however, with Andy Macrae testing Hamilton with a low effort from the edge of the box.
The hosts’ best chance of the opening half arrived on 38 minutes when Macrae sent Morrison through on goal, but his effort forced an excellent save from Hamilton to divert the ball behind.
Malin made another fine save to deny a second free kick by Adam within 60 seconds of the restart. The Cattachs rallied to pull a goal back, with Martin Maclean forcing Hamilton to turn behind a long range effort, while Tom Kelly also saw a strike deflected past the post.
Dundee could have killed off the home side’s challenge, with Anderson denied by a stunning Malin save, before Paul McGowan struck an effort wide, however James McPake’s men held firm for the points to move top of their section.
