Meanwhile at the top end Ally MacDonald and Daniel Mackay
had shots off target for Brora and when MacKenzie hoisted a free kick from the
left touch line high to the back post Bokas spilled the ball which was
scrambled away.
Macadie tried a shot from a tight angle on the right while
was comfortably held by Bell but the Brora keeper had no chance when Macadie
raced into the box to fire a defence splitting pass from Stevie Cunningham into
the net from 15 yards to spark the game into life and give Academy a half time
lead.
Half time 1 – 0
Within a minute of the restart Brora were level. Scott Begg
let fly from 25 yards and the ball rattled the woodwork as it flew into the top
corner of the net.
Macadie immediately restored Academy's lead. Allan pulled
the ball back from the left side of the box and Macadie made space to slot the
ball past Bell.
In the 56th minute it could have been 3-1 as
Allan cut in from the right and unleashed a low drive which Bell saved with an outstretched leg.
Two minutes later the scores were level at 2-2. Substitute
Liam Baxter outwitted two defenders and drilled the ball low past Bokas.
On the hour Bokas punched none too convincingly at a
MacDonald free kick under his crossbar and Mackenzie's rebound shot was
deflected.
Alan Farquhar was booked for a foul, a yellow card which
would shortly prove very costly. He challenged for a 50-50 ball in the centre
circle and appeared to win it cleanly but referee Graham Fraser deemed it a
reckless challenge and a second yellow card for the Wick defender saw his team
reduced to ten men.
Bell
palmed the ball away in a crowded Brora box and in the ensuing stramash no
Academy player could force the ball forward. Macadie intercepted a clearance
and swept the ball into the middle ahead of Gary Weir but the striker was
heavily outnumbered.
As the game went into stoppage time Michael Steven tripped
Baxter 22 yards in front of goal and MacKenzie stepped up to drill the free
kick low through the wall for a dramatic Brora winner.
Full time 2 – 3
Sponsors Man of the match Richard Macadie
Pictured receiving his award from Graeme Bain on behalf of match sponsor Wick Blast
