Brora Rangers win the Highland League as manager speaks of his pride that his players have become champions
MANAGER Steven Mackay praised his Highland League title winning squad as Brora Rangers became champions on the final day of the season.
The Cattachs thrashed Rothes 7-2 at Dudgeon Park to secure the title for the fifth time in their history on Saturday afternoon.
Despite going behind after 11 minutes due to a Colin Williamson own goal, Max Ewan levelled three minutes later before Shane Sutherland scored a hat-trick and Connor Bunce also found the net to give them a 5-2 lead at half time.
Sutherland then got his fourth in the second half with Michael Finnis also finding the net as Brora Rangers won the Highland League for the first time in four years.
Mackay says it was a nervy start when they went behind, but was always confident they could take control of the match and become champions at the final whistle.
He said: “Football always throws up bizarre scenarios and we felt if we went out and started well we could make the game comfortable.
“But we score an own goal and before you know it we were 1-0 down.
“We responded quickly and Max scores a phenomenal goal and we felt it was only a matter of time before we got a second.
“The boys going forward were devastating and we could have scored more. But I am not fussed by that.
“I wanted us to enjoy the second half which we did and got some boys on to get minutes too. It has been a tough last six games and the boys have responded so well.”
It is the fifth time Brora Rangers have won the Highland League, but the first time they have lifted the trophy at Dudgeon Park with a big crowd cheering on their success at full time.
Mackay has been involved in all of Brora Rangers’ previous title triumphs as a player and manager, but said being able to lift the trophy at home made this victory special.
He said: “In 2013-14 and 2014-15 we won the league at games away to Keith and then we won at Turriff.
“During the Covid hit seasons in 2019-20 and 2020-21, we got a text message to say we won the league and the second time was in a group chat.
“We gave ourselves a great opportunity to win the league this season and to win it here in front of a good crowd, I couldn’t ask more.”
Brora Rangers and Brechin City battled it out for top spot over the course of the season with the lead exchanging hands a number of times.
When Brechin City beat Brora Rangers 2-0 last month at Dudgeon Park, many felt the Angus club were in the driving seat to go on and win the title.
But four days later, Brechin lost at Inverurie and Brora regained top spot beating Keith and never relinquished the lead again.
Mackay said his team showed real character to pounce on Brechin’s mistake and go on to win the title.
He said: “At times, it was almost like nobody wanted to win it, whoever went top then appeared to falter a few weeks later.
“Huge question marks were asked of us especially after losing back to back matches against Buckie Thistle and Brechin City.
“We had six games to go and I felt we had to win all six, there were tricky games but the boys have done brilliantly well. Over the course of the season, I feel like we have been the best team to watch. The amount of goals we have scored will tell you that.
“We have also given away poor goals over the course of the season but we have always learned from that.
“We are an inexperienced team and not many boys in the team have won the Highland League before.
“We have learned to deal with the pressure of having to win and teams wanting to topple us.”
Despite winning the league on the final day of the season, Brora Rangers hope to have five matches left to play.
They take on Fraserburgh in the Highland League Cup final in Inverness on Saturday as they look to complete a treble after winning the North of Scotland Cup in October.
As a result of obtaining their SFA bronze level licence in March, Brora Rangers are also eligible for the SPFL play-offs and will face Lowland League champions East Kilbride in the two-legged semi final later this month. The winner will face the team which finishes bottom of League Two in the final for a place in the division next season.
Mackay says his team have learned how to deal with the big occasions and are hopeful of more success before the end of the campaign.
He said: “Our last six games have been cup finals, knowing we had to win otherwise it was all over.
“Next Saturday is another cup final but we are well versed as the last six games have been cup finals.
“We will enjoy this moment and then focus on this Saturday and the play-offs will take care of themselves.
“But these are games that we want to be part of.”