When the draw from the Scottish Challenge Cup (for sponsorship purposes it is now the Petrofac Training Cup) was made back in early July, the tie that immediately leaped out was at a ground 500 miles away from home in Sutherland. Don’t be stupid I thought, but when a like-minded groundhopping pal suggested driving, well oh my goodness!
The club were founded in 1879 and originally played at Inverbrora Park before moving to their current home, Dudgeon Park, in 1932. In 1933 they became members Scottish Football Association and joined the Highland Football League in 1962.
The ground is on the outskirts of the village, just off the A9, as you enter Brora. It was a 5 minute walk to the nearest alehouse, the Sutherland Inn, where they had a couple of Isle of Skye ales on the go. Very nice too.
I did wonder how strong the ale was when greeted with the sight of a float going by with youngsters dressed up in various football strips, including an one lad dressed up in a Terry Butcher-style blood soaked England kit, to the strains of the Fat Les tune Vindaloo, very bizarre.
The match wasn't the greatest spectacle, but Brora Rangers managed to pull off a well deserved cup shock to dump Stenhousemuir out of the competition. This was in no small part thanks to a Zander Sutherland hat-trick.
Stenhousemuir levelled early in the second half, from the penalty spot, when Martin Grehan (52) blasted home (pictured above left).
There were no more goals in normal time, so extra time it was. A defensive mix up allowed Sutherland to bag his second goal (92) where he was also booked for whipping his shirt off in celebaration, a stupid rule in my opinion. He completed his hat-trick in the 104th minute when his cross/shot found it's way into the net to secure a famous victory for Brora.
It was then a mere 170 miles back to our hotel in Perth and some much needed refreshment. A ridiculously long day but well worth the effort - big thanks must go to the man behind the wheel, which thankfully wasn't me in this case!