A Zander Sutherland hat-trick – including a goal direct from a corner kick – booked Brora Rangers a place in today’s Petrofac Training Cup second-round draw after a superb win against League 1 side Stenhousemuir.
Brora dominated for long spells in the first half but had only a Sutherland goal to show for their efforts throughout the 90 minutes as Stenny levelled from the penalty spot early in the second period when Martin Grehan netted after being brought down in the box.
The tie went to extra-time but a further two goals from Sutherland deservedly steered Brora through to the next round.
Brora manger Davie Kirkwood said: “We had a great chance to kill the game early in the second half but then we lost a soft penalty. We let them back into the match and stood off them for 20 minutes.
“When it came to extra time everyone might have thought they would have the superior fitness but we were the fitter team. It just showed how much work these players put in pre-season.”
Brora captain Steven MacKay forced a save from Stenny’s Jack Hamilton in the sixth minute and four minutes later a glancing header from Colin Williamson was touched behind by the goalkeeper for a corner.
The visitors had to wait until the 26th minute for their first effort on goal but Sean Dickson’s low drive failed to trouble Joe Malin in the Brora goal.
Stenny almost took the lead shortly afterwards when Grehan got the slightest of touches to a Joshua Watt corner but his effort rebounded off the upright.
The breakthrough came at the other end in the 32nd minute. Brora won a corner on the right and Sutherland’s inswinger deceived everyone and finished up over the goalline.
Brora should have doubled their lead in the 48th minute when Scott Graham got on the end of a MacKay delivery but his header flashed past the far post.
Brora were punished for that miss when Stenny were awarded a penalty four minutes later when Scott Houston was adjudged to have fouled Grehan just inside the box.
Grehan took the spot kick and sent Malin the wrong way from 12 yards.
Grant Munro and substitute Dale Gillespie both came close for Brora before the end of regulation time but the tie was destined for a an extra 30 minutes.
Sutherland struck two minutes into extra time when he took advantage of a mix-up in the Stenny defence to roll the ball into the empty net.
There was no way back for the League 1 side in the 104th minute when Sutherland flicked a deep cross from Ross Tokely in at the near post for a decisive third goal.
Stenny manager Scott Booth said: “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Brora, I thought they did really well. They were hungrier than us and in the end they totally justified their win.”