Darren McConnachie turns back the years to come out of retirement for a Highland League comeback and shine against Highland League champions Brora Rangers
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VETERAN goalkeeper Darren McConnachie came out of retirement in midweek to help out Lossiemouth give Highland League champions Brora Rangers another scare.
With loan keepers Logan Ross from Ross County and Ollie Kelly from Elgin City unavailable, the Coasters turned to club coach ‘Mini’ McConnachie (37) to fill the void.
He turned back the clock with an inspired performance to keep the Cattachs at bay until the 73rd minute, before two Jordan MacRae goals finally broke Lossie’s resistance.
“Mini came out of retirement and he was brilliant to be honest,” said assistant manager Ian Campbell.
“For a boy to come back and play against the league champion and play the way he does shows his quality.”
Lossie have been a thorn in Brora’s side this season, as they took the Sutherland side to penalties in the semi-finals of the North of Scotland Cup at Dudgeon Park.
That night the Moray side was 2-0 down with 15 minutes to play before battling back and levelling at the death, only to suffer heartbreak in the shoot-out.
As well as being without both goalies for Wednesday’s game, Lossie also missed midfielders Ryan Sewell and James Leslie. They brought RAF serviceman Danny Hall in as a deputy keeper on the bench along with defender Ally Bellingham, who has missed the entire season so far .
“We had maybe two or three chances to take the lead before they scored,” Campbell said. “We battled well, you can’t knock the effort that they put in so we are disappointed with the result but not the performance. It’s another close game against one of the so-called top sides.
“You can see with results that we are going in the right direction, and that’s with using all local young boys.”
Lossie will have Sewell, Leslie and both keepers back for their first-ever league trip to Brechin City, while centre back Dean Stewart is also battling to be fit from a knock.
They have also had Kinloss Sappers striker Jay Hubbard on trial, a player who had been impressing in the Forres and Nairn welfare league this summer.
