Masson stakes claim to central midfield

Brora Rangers playermanager Steven Mackay is closing in on two memorable landmarks.

The 37-year-old former Ross County, Peterhead, Elgin City, Forres Mechanics and Nairn County striker is just three goals short of scoring 200 for Brora, and just one short of taking his all-time Highland League scoring record to an equally impressive 300.

Mackay said: “We’re almost there on 197, just three goals short of notching my 200th Brora goal in the last six-anda-half seasons.

“Not a bad average really. “The first 150 came up fairly quick, but there was a spell the season before last that I looked destined to be leaving Brora, something I never really wanted to do.

“I felt that I still had a lot to offer, and that sitting on the substitute’s bench just wasn’t for me.

“That was the only reason that I asked to be placed on the transfer list.

“It’s great that in the end I didn’t have to leave as I’ve had six-and-a-half very happy years at Dudgeon Park.

“It’s been fantastic in terms of seeing the club grow, winning back-to-back titles, and also in the manner in which they won them.

“That was a frustrating kind of two years.

“I was working away from home over in Houston in the States, and that didn’t help either.

“I suppose I’ve bucked the trend.

“Usually when they get older players usually drop back from their original roles into defence. It looks l’ve bucked the trend as I started my career at Ross County in 1998 as a left back, over the years I’ve also been a midfielder until at this late stage of my career.

“I now play up front, something I never did until I started playing at Brora – I’ve got slower but ironically I’m now playing further up the park.” Jamie Masson staked a strong claim for a permanent central midfield role for Cove Rangers in Saturday’s excellent 2-0 win over Forres Mechanics at Balmoral Stadium.

The 25-year-old former Don partnered former Arbroath midfielder Blair Yule as a two in the centre of a midfield four, taking the place of regular Connor Scully, whose wife has just had a baby daughter.

Masson, who usually plays in a wide role, said: “That is where I like to play, in the centre of midfield, I see myself as a central midfield player, and I’ve told my manager John Sheran that.

“I really enjoyed scoring our second goal when I cut in and beat the Forres keeper with a shot into the top corner which more or less wrapped up the win.

“John likes to change the formation, sometimes he goes with a three in the middle, if Connor Scully comes in, and I think that works well as well.

“We’ve got a good squad and the boys just need to keep going and fight for their places.”

Masson went on to add: “I prefer being in the centre, either in a three or like last Saturday in a four.

“Hopefully I’ve been able to prove a point to John in the Forres game last weekend.

“I don’t know what will happen when Connor comes back, he used to be a winger, although he’s done brilliant in a centre mid role as well, when we’ve been playing with a three in the middle recently.

“The young lad, Cammy Milne, also came in, played there and did well, so we have lots of options there.”