Fort William midfielder Jack Brown refuses to believe a Scottish Cup second round replay victory over League 2 side Albion Rovers is beyond his side today.
Fort struck a late equaliser to draw 1-1 against Rovers in last weekend’s original tie at Cliftonhill, with the two sides meeting once again at Claggan Park this afternoon.
While the draw sparked euphoric scenes in the visiting dressing room, the result has been described as one of the worst in the Coatbridge club’s history.
On-loan Caley Thistle player Brown sees no reason to fear a backlash, claiming share of the spoils was the least the Lochaber side deserved.
Brown said: “We were underdogs with nothing to lose, the approach was to go out and play as we can.
“During the game I felt like we could get a result. Getting a result away to a League 2 team was something most Fort fans wouldn’t have expected.
“I actually thought we were the better team in the game. We were just hoping to get the goal which we finally did, which felt really good.
“We are looking forward to the replay. We are underdogs again, but we feel like we gave a good account of ourselves. There is no reason why we can’t go through.”
Brown is among nine Inverness teenagers to be loaned to Fort for the campaign, and he feels he is already benefiting from the experience he is gaining in the Highland League.
The 18-year-old added: “We all need games – it’s why we came here.
“It’s a platform to improve and develop as players. Games like this are mainly why we joined.
“It’s games against men in the Highland League. That’s something the manager has told us – it’s real men’s football.
“It’s teaching us how to deal with all the physical and technical parts, as there are good technical teams in the Highland League.
“I feel like I have developed as a player, it has given me game time every week which I might not get at Inverness.
“Before I went out to Fort I was on the bench a few times, but I didn’t really get a game.
“I’m developing as a player and really enjoying it. Hopefully we can come back to Inverness and be better players.”
Brown netted the winner in Fort’s 1-0 victory over Clachnacuddin last month, which ended a 74-game run without a league victory, and he feels the loanees have carried a strong team spirit to Russell MacMorran’s side.
He added: “To get that first win was a good feeling. The whole of Fort was buzzing. It’s a good thing for the whole town to see the team doing well.
“It’s good to play with all the boys I have played with. There are nine of us, so it does feel like a colts team.”
