Brora beggar belief with giant killing
BRORA RANGERS last night pulled off one of the most remarkable shocks in Scottish Cup history by sending Hearts crashing out.
The ring-rusty Highlanders had played just one match in 2021 and just 10 competitively since the pandemic began, but the part-time heroes showed incredible energy, fitness and defiance to hold out.
When a stunning Jordan Macrae opener early on was eventually wiped out by Christophe Berra after 74 minutes, the Edinburgh giants should have finished the job.
Instead, Martin MacLean sent the Highland League champions back ahead with a fantastic controlled finish watched by a small crowd of disbelieving locals lining raised ground outside Dudgeon Park.
Hearts Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was on Scotland international duty, while Michael Smith – suspended anyway – was with Northern Ireland.
Andy Halliday was also serving a ban while a lengthy injury list featured Steven Naismith and Stephen Kingsley.
Manager Robbie Neilson reacted by restoring Aidan White, Peter Haring and Christophe Berra, while there was a homecoming of sorts for Caithnessian Gary MackaySteven. Brora were able to pick the same team as saw off Camelon Juniors in the first round in mid-January.
Hearts, with six changes in all from Saturday’s scoreless draw at Arbroath, opened at good tempo, with MackaySteven soon a threat.
But completely against the run of play, Brora opened from their first attack after 11 minutes. It was a stunning moment from Macrae, taking a pass from namesake Andy and rocketing a 22-yard strike into the top-right corner of the net.
With Brora hitting on the break, the goalscorer sniffed another terrific chance inside 23 minutes but saw his attempt deflect for a corner.
Mackay-Steven’s good work on the left set up Aaron McEneff for an attempt saved down low by home keeper Joe Malin, while Armand Gnanduillet nodded wastefully off-target on the half hour.
Liam Boyce replaced anonymous Gervane Kastaneer at the break, with Brora pinned back and under siege into the second half.
By the time ex-Ross County keeper Joe Malin made a stunning block froma Christophe Berra header, tiring Brora were throwing bodies in front of everything fired their way.
The Hearts equaliser was scrappy. From a corner; Walker headed back across the box and Berra steered a close-range volley beyond the keeper.
Brora’s Bjorn Wagenaar thrashed a free-kick just over in retaliation to show the spirited Highlanders – and they restored the lead after 74 minutes.
Martin MacLean showed incredible cool to place a halfvolleyed finish high into the net after keeper Ross Stewart failed to deal with a Wagenaar freekick flashed across the box.
It was nerve-shredding for the hosts, but the small group of officials and fans outside the ground erupted in joy after three minutes stoppage time.