Saturday 22 April
Huntly 1 Brora Rangers 3
Photos courtesy of David Moore

Huntly ended their season with an embarrassing defeat to 14th-placed Brora Rangers who secured their first time in 27 games writes Grant Turner.

Neil Reid came into the starting XI for the home side in place of the suspended Gary McGowan while Mike Cormack and Martin Stewart took charge in the dugout with Manager Billy Anderson absent. The visitors made 3 changes to their line-up who lost at Lossiemouth last week.

Huntly had the perfect opportunity to take the lead from the spot when Brian Gray fouled Jerry O'Driscoll who was making progress in the penalty area. Matt Gairns stepped up, in the absence of usual penalty taker Ross Campbell, and hit it low to the keeper's left but Michael Gray got down to touch it round the post.

Four minutes later, Sam McKay gained a yard over Alan Redford and did well to shoot first time but his attempt was wide of the post.

There was a blow for the home side in 25 minutes when Graham Green was stretchered off with a knee injury as was replaced by the returning Russell guild.

Shortly before the half hour mark Richard Craig played the ball to Jerry O'Driscoll who returned it to his strike partner who bobbled a shot wide of the target. Karl Farrimond was the next to pass up an opening hitting a shot just wide of the mark as the home team searched for the lead.

Nevertheless it was Brora that took the lead eight minutes before the break when some great play down the right wing by Aaron Smith culminated in a cross that turned into a shot and ultimately a goal floating over the heads of the defenders and keeper Ryszard Gorski before nestling in the corner of the net.

Following the restart, the black and gold's went upfield and came close from O'Driscoll who was denied from a good stop by Michael Gray.

Huntly appeared to have levelled when Karl Farrimond's ball forward to Russell Guild was helped towards Jerry O'Driscoll. The former Dundee man nodded it beyond Michael Gray but the linesman's flag called play back.

A minute later, following a free kick awarded out on the right wing Aaron Christie whipped in the dead ball with his left foot and Gordon Mackenzie rose unmarked to head home from six yards out giving Brora a 2-0 lead right on the stroke of half time.

Half Time: Huntly 0 Brora Rangers 2

Six minutes into the half and the home side had the opportunity to forced a goal back from a dead ball but Richard Craig's effort failed to give Michael Gray any real trouble.
Craig passed up another good chance a moment later. Some good link-up play between Neil Reid and Russell Guild sent the club's top scorer through on goal only to see his effort find the side-netting.

Brora were now brimming with confidence in front of goal and they made it 3-0 to kill the match off as a contest. Lee McGregor pulled up for a handball just outside the area. Aaron Christie's delivery once more with Shane Sutherland cutting it back for Gordon Mackenzie to apply a poachers finish from close range for his fourth of the season.

Things got worse for the last season's champions with a turnout of 91 paying spectators; some were already heading for the exits.

In 67 minutes, stand-in skipper Levi Stephen was penalised for a free kick outside the area and despite already being warned by Referee Roddy Cobb, he continued his verbal protest and as a result booked for dissent.

The Cattach's came close to making in four on 70 minutes when Iain Innes' cross was met by the free head of Mark Kennedy who saw his effort skim the crossbar.

With fifteen minutes remaining O'Driscoll played the ball out to Gairns on the right wing. He picked out Richard Craig with the centre but the former Elgin City man could only direct his header over the crossbar.

Huntly scored a consolation effort late in the game when Matty Gairns' cross from the right found Karl Farrimond free at the back post and he controlled it before shooting into the top right hand corner to net his first for the club.

With the game heading into stoppage time, there was a controversial moment when Huntly defender was booked by Referee Cobb for swearing towards his own supporters.

All credit to Brora, they were deserving of the three points as they won at Christie Park for the first time in 4 years.

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