A repeat of this season’s North of Scotland final produced the same outcome as Brora Rangers defeated Clachnacuddin 4-2 at Dudgeon Park.
Brora started the game the brighter and made the breakthrough in the eighth minute when Clach failed to clear their lines from a corner and Colin Williamson smashed it into the net.
The lead didn’t last for long with Ross County loanee Andrew Macleod setting up Paul Brindle to restore parity.
Against the run of play, Brora retook the lead. A simple ball through the heart of defence allowed top goalscorer Andy Macrae to add to his tally.
But Clach drew level on the 45th minute when a slack pass on the edge of the Brora box presented the ball to Clach’s Martin Callum who weaved past the red shirts before squaring it for Brindle to get his second of the day.
After the break a Clach corner seemed to be fumbled by Brora goalkeeper Ruardhri Nicol into his own net. The Clach players ran to celebrate before the referee disallowed the goal for a foul.
Feeling hard done by, Clach then conceded a penalty. Andy Macrae’s close range shot was deemed to hit a hand. The opposition players surrounded the referee and Brindle was given a straight red card for dissent. Jordan Macrae stepped up for Brora to give the hosts the lead for the third time.
Brora Rangers v Clachnacuddin
Teamlines pic.twitter.com/fdJq3hzTrN— Brora Rangers (@brorarangers) November 26, 2022
Not one to give up, the Inverness side roused themselves once again, substitute Lewis Mackenzie had a great effort, lobbing Nicol in goal but hitting the top of the bar.
The next goal was crucial and it fell for Brora Rangers with Max Ewan sprinting down the right wing and delivering a fantastic cross for Jordan Macrae to get his second of the day.
Brora boss Craig Campbell said: “I think Clach can feel really hard done by, but we have had decisions against us. It was about getting three points and that’s what we did.”
His Clach counterpart Jordan Macdonald said: “We didn’t deserve to lose the game.
“There was a lot of frustration but also a lot of pride in our performance, however, we didn’t get the three points and that is what we came for.”
Keith 2-1 Turriff United
Keith ended a seven-game winless run in a hard-fought match at Kynoch Park against Turriff.
Two goals inside the opening 23 minutes from Tom Andrews and Liam Duncan sealed a much needed three points, despite the visitors grabbing a lifeline on the stroke of half time through a scrambled Reece McKeown goal.
Keith manager Craig Ewen said: “We are delighted to get the win – it’s been a while and it’s great for the boys.
“It was a pretty good team performance, they showed a strong work ethic.
“We needed the rub of the green which maybe hasn’t gone our way in recent games.
“I thought we played well in the first half, on the front foot and got a good start with a couple of good goals.
“We then conceded a bad goal just on half-time and in the second half Turriff were the better team by a reasonable distance, but we put bodies on the line and managed the game quite well in tricky windy conditions and on a heavy pitch.”
The Maroons, searching for their first win since October 8, got off to a flying start after only six minutes when Tom Andrews crashed the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
The hosts increased the lead with 23 minutes on the clock when Liam Duncan raced through to steer the ball wide of David Dey into the bottom corner.
Keith goalkeeper Craig Reid had his first save in the 42nd minute, brilliantly keeping out a Ewan Clark effort. He was left helpless on the stroke of half time despite his frantic efforts to keep the ball out and Reece McKeown’s scrambled shot crossed the line. Although Turriff held the upper hand after the break, Keith’s stout defending saw them glean the win.
Turriff manager Dean Donaldson said: “We didn’t deserve anything from the game though we had a few penalty claims.
“Keith wanted it more and deserved the win.
“We had eight boys out but that’s no excuse as the 11 that started should be able to do it.”
Huntly 0-2 Banks o’ Dee
Banks o’ Dee got off the foot of the table after a 2-0 win saw them complete a league double over Huntly.
Manager Jamie Watt was pleased to get the win in difficult conditions.
He said: “It was important we went with the wind in the first half and defended really well in the second half.
“It was a case of us getting back to basics after letting in a lot of goals lately.
“We looked a threat going forward and took our goals at good moments so all in all a cracking day for us.”
The visitors took the lead after 31 minutes when Lewis Crosbie got space out on the right and the ball in found its way to Kane Winton who drove in his tenth of the season.
Huntly came close to equalising with a minute of the half left when Ross Still saw a header held by Andrew Shearer.
Nine minutes into the second half, Alasdair Stark and Lewis Crosbie combined down the right before the latter crossed the ball in for Lachie Macleod netted with a free header to score for the third successive game.
A very comfortable afternoon in extremely breezy conditions. That win now moves us off the bottom of the table.
⚽️ Kane Winton
⚽️ Lachie Macleod pic.twitter.com/fYSJyfnHzg— Banks O' Dee FC (@banksodee_fc) November 26, 2022
Huntly had chances late on to reduce the deficit, Ross Still curled in a right-footed effort in the 72nd minute which was saved by Shearer.
With three minutes remaining, substitute Cameron Blacklock delivered a free kick into the opposition box and Shearer was again on hand to deny Still from close range.
It was a fourth successive league defeat for Huntly with assistant Stefan Laird admitting his side didn’t handle the conditions.
He said: “We had five or six starters not playing so it’s always going to be tough with the quality that Banks o’ Dee have got.
“We want to win every game but we’ve got to be at our best to get something off Banks o’ Dee.
“We didn’t handle the conditions well and it was poor defending for the goals and we didn’t capitalise when we had the opportunity.”
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