Cove Rangers showed the steel of champions to turn a losing position into an undeserved victory reacting to Brora's 86th minute goal to score two in the following three minutes to open up a lead at the top of the table.
The first chance of the game was created by Daniel Mackay who ran down the wing and cut into the box before firing a shot which Stuart McKenzie turned around the post for a corner. Evan Murray then fired a volley from the edge of the box just wide as Brora put some early pressure on the visitors.
With quarter of an hour gone John Cameron crossed the ball for Daniel Mackay who saw his header cleared off the line. In the end Brora got what they deserved, going in front in the 29th minute with John Cameron collecting and neatly clipping the ball past Stuart McKenzie.
Cove were rarely seen as an attacking threat in the first half and they were lucky to be only a goal down at the break. Danger man Mackay took a free kick in his stride and carried it into the box before firing into the sidenetting from a tight angle.
The second half started with more of the same. Aaron Christie ran down the wing and crossed for Liam Baxter; Neil Cruickshank slid in to make the tackle but the ball deflected back off Baxter and only just cleared the crossbar.
Then a Daniel Mackay corner found Andrew Neill at the back post but his header was cleared off the line by Murray McCulloch as Cove doggedly remained in the match despite the home team's best efforts to kill them off.
There were signs that the Toonsers were coming to life on the hour mark when Kevin Webster's cross was turned towards goal by Danny Milne only for Evan Murray to clear the ball off the line. That gave them hope and when Barrie Stephen turned Andy Neill at the edge of the box and fired the ball towards goal Cove got the luck they were looking for with Johnston deflecting the ball past Daniel Bell.
Brora responded well and good team work by Liam Baxter and John Cameron saw the latter cross for Scot Begg but his six yard effort was turned round the post by the on form Stuart McKenzie.
The keeper was at it again, turning away a powerful Evan Murray header from a Scott Begg free kick before the home team were dealt a blow as centre back Mark Smith appeared to tear his hamstring forcing a defensive reshuffle.
Brora continued to go in search of all three points and with eight minutes left Daniel Mackay crossed for John Cameron to set up Liam Baxter but the teenager was denied by McKenzie once more.
Just when it seemed the stopper wouldn't be beaten for a second time a long ball over the Cove defence set trialist Scott McKain free and although his first shot was saved he followed in to rattle home the rebound. 2-1 Brora and just four minutes to go.
It was then that Cove really sprung into life. Barely a minute later an Eric Watson cross was headed home by Barrie Stephen then on the 90th minute Martin Johnston drilled an unstoppable 25 yard effort into the top corner giving Daniel Bell no chance to stun the Cattachs.
It was a victory that they ill-deserved but it was a finale that often gives a team the psychological edge in a title run in.
Full Time: Brora Rangers 2 Cove Rangers 3 |
