Brora Rangers manager Steven Mackay was faced with the prospect of playing a goalkeeper outfield if the Cattachs’ injury crisis worsened against Lossiemouth – but he was delighted with the resilience his side showed to secure a comeback victory.

A tricky week for Brora threatened to go from bad to worse when goals from Keane Matheson and Liam Harvey had Lossie ahead after 33 minutes.

However, Ben Barron struck twice before half time to ensure Brora went into the break on level pegging, and in the second half Barron would complete his hat-trick after James Anderson hit his 23rd goal of the campaign to seal a 4-2 victory.

The Lazarus-like comeback was made all the more impressive by Mackay’s lack of options on the bench to change the game.

James Wallace was the only named outfield substitute, but his inclusion in the squad was a nominal one as he was not fit to play.

That meant had Brora picked up more injuries, Mackay would have been forced to turn to goalkeepers Cammy Mackay and substitute Aiden Mackenzie and asked one of them to play outfield.

“At 2-0 down, the world is against us, but that happens in football from time to time,” the Cattachs boss told club media.

“We had to show a huge amount of resilience to find a way back into the game. We went more direct and got lots of joy, and Ben Barron was great throughout using his physical presence for his goals.

“At half time we were very much back in the game, and we felt that if we continued in the same vein we would get more opportunities in the second half. In reality, it could have ended up being five or six.

“Lossie were good value, particularly in the first half, so it was a difficult afternoon and they made us work for it, but we showed great character and resilience to make sure that didn’t turn into a defeat or a draw.

“It speaks volumes for the whole squad, because we had no subs today outwith Aiden. If anyone got injured, we were potentially going to play with a goalkeeper outfield – that could have meant Cammy Mackay going up top after his exploits against Cowdenbeath.

“I’m not the only manager with injury issues. We operate with a tight squad of 20, and we have eight players out, but I’m not asking for any sympathy, and people certainly won’t give it to us.

“When the chips are down, we stick together and battle our way through, and that’s what we did today.”

Naturally, Barron was the team’s star performer with his hat-trick, and him finding the net alongside Anderson was a particular highlight for Mackay given the two had been on a relative scoring drought by their high standards.

“I’ve been in that position where, as a striker, you go on a bit of a drought and nothing seems to come off, and you’re missing chance you would typically put away,” Mackay continued.

“Naturally, you overthink it, but I said to them that every striker goes through that phase. As a striker, you just have to make sure you hit the target with the next chance you get, and if the keeper saves it so be it.

“They both stepped up and got their goals, and Ben was a real handful with his physicality and holding the ball up. James was a good foil for him.

“For us as a team, it’s good to see them back on the scoresheet, and I felt we created more opportunities for them today which was important.”

Next weekend, Brora contest the opening round of the Highland League Cup against Formartine, who they beat 4-1 at North Lodge Park at the start of the season.

Despite that, Formartine remain at the top end of the Highland League table, so Mackay views August’s league result as an anomaly and not one that will be easily repeated at Dudgeon Park.

“Games against Formartine are always difficult,” he stressed.

“We obviously won comfortably down there early on in the league, which isn’t reflective of games against Formartine.

“I think they caught us on an exceptionally good day, and we caught them on an exceptionally bad day, so I don’t expect that to happen again next weekend.

“They are on a good run in the league, but we have a week to try and bring in a new face or two, and hopefully one or two boys who have been struggling will be back.

“If we need to go with the same squad we had today, we will go and fight for our place in the next round of the Highland League Cup.”