Manager Craig Campbell hailed Andrew Macrae’s “exceptional” display after Brora Rangers defeated Inverurie Locos 5-2.
The attacker bagged a brace and was prominent throughout as the Cattachs triumphed at Dudgeon Park to stay second in the Breedon Highland League.
Boss Campbell said: “Andrew Macrae was excellent, we worked on a few things during the week with his movement.
“He took everything on board and I think the work paid off because he was outstanding, but we had a few excellent performances.
“I can’t give Andrew enough plaudits for his performance. I’ve been critical of both him and Jordan MacRae this season, because, having played as a striker, I expect them to score goals and I keep nagging them.
“But Andrew’s all-round performance was exceptional.”
Reflecting on the victory against the Railwaymen, Campbell added: “It’s a good three points for us against a good side.
“We probably had the toughest fixture of the teams at the top, so it’s pleasing to get the three points.
“It may have been 5-2, but at stages in the game it was really competitive with both teams going at each other.”
Cattachs too strong
Macrae got the ball rolling for Brora early on, beating goalkeeper Andy Reid with a finish from Tony Dingwall’s reverse pass.
But Locos levelled on 35 minutes with Garry Wood’s left-footed strike from the edge of the box finding the right corner.
As half-time approached, the visitors could have taken the lead when Brora goalkeeper Ruardhri Nicol parried Wood’s shot, but Nathan Meres scooped the rebound over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
And, right on the stroke of half-time, the hosts went ahead again courtesy of Dingwall’s finish from inside the box.
Macrae notched his second and Brora’s third shortly after the restart, and Max Ewan made it four in the 54th minute with a neat turn and finish.
Wood pulled one back for Inverurie, knocking home the loose ball after Fergus Alberts poked it beyond Nicol, but, in the dying embers, Brora made it 5-2 with Dale Gillespie scoring from the penalty spot after Callum Duncan tripped Macrae.
Locos went missing
Inverurie manager Richard Hastings said: “Goals change games, we had the chance and could have been 2-1 up at half-time, but then a minute later we lose the second goal and it’s a sucker-punch.
“Even at 3-1 we were still in it, you need to weather the storm, but we seemed to disappear and we were gone for 20 minutes.
“I said before the game that no matter what happened, we needed to perform for 90 minutes.
“But too many of us were posted missing for a 20-minute period in the second half and we finished strongly after that.
“However, it’s a 90-minute game and you can’t pick and choose when you want to play.”
One bit of good news for Locos is that youngster Jay Halliday has signed a contract extension.
Hastings added: “Jay has been a bright light for us and there’s much more to come from him.”
