Brora Rangers sit just three points behind Nairn County and Lossiemouth - who are tied for 13th place - in the Highland league table after seeing off Strathspey Thistle by four goals to two at Dudgeon Park to put 10 points between themselves and the Grantown Jags.
The Cattachs thought they had got off to the dream start when Andrew Neil netted Mark Lamont's cross from the left with just one minute played but the linesman raised his flag and the goal was disallowed for offside.
However, just three minutes later, Andrew Neil and Brora had their opening goal. The midfielder picked up the scraps in the box after the Strathspey defence failed to deal with the ball into the danger area and rammed home to put the hosts ahead.
There was limited action from thereon in as the game started to settle down with half chances from Lamont and John Cameron proving to be the best of the goalmouth action before Strathspey had a real chance to haul themselves level seven minutes before the break.
Gordon McNab tossed a dangerous free kick into the penalty area towards the back post area where the towering Murray Ross was on hand but he could only direct his header past the post from a threatening position.
It was a miss that the visitors were made to rue as Brora added their second goal of the game just three minutes later. John Cameron took the proceedings by the scruff of the neck as he ran at the Strathspey defence before showing a cool head to despatch a low effort beyond the outrushing Chris Bowles and into the Jags net.
Half time: Brora Rangers 2 Strathspey Thistle 0
Cameron could have had his second of the day nine minutes after the restart when he again showed his pace to run through one-on-one with Bowles but he blasted his effort well over the crossbar.
Brora went three up on 61 minutes though when Bowles - playing his first game since returning from a two-month stint in France - failed to gather a cross at the edge of the penalty area with the ball breaking kindly for Mark Lamont to volley home.
Strathspey gave themselves hope six minutes later though when they were awarded a penalty following a handball offence by recent Brora signing Mark Smith in the penalty box. Ronnie Jones stepped up to take the penalty and although his effort from 12 yards was parried by home goalkeeper Daniel Bell, the centre forward was on hand to rifle home the rebound.
That scrap of hope multiplied just three minutes later when the Jags reduced the arrears to just one. A throw in from the left was controlled by Ronnie Jones and he showed his physical strength to turn his marker and blast home his second of the day through the legs of Bell.
However, Brora took the growing wind right out of Strathspey's sails by restoring their two-goal advantage on 72 minutes. Gary Farquhar whipped in a teasing right-footed cross that was headed home by Evan Murray as the centre half rose highest in the Thistle box.
The home side could have added another two minutes from time through substitute Jamie MacKay but as his nicknamesake was putting the finishing touches to a home win at Ibrox, Novo couldn't quite do the same for the Rangers of Brora as he ran through on goal only to be denied by Bowles, who made a smart save with his legs.
Full time: Brora Rangers 4 Strathspey Thistle 2
Reporter: Dale Pryde-Macdonald |
