Brora Rangers’ Scottish Cup hero Cammy Mackay admitted he just “closed his eyes and hoped for the best” after crucial interventions at both ends of the park helped the Cattachs progress.

In stormy conditions that battered the entire country, Brora struggled to reproduce their usual fluency going forward, and went 1-0 down with just five minutes left on the clock.

That prompted an all-out-attack response, in turn leaving the visitors vulnerable defensively. In the 90th minute, Cowdenbeath had a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 and seal victory, only for Mackay to make a vital save.

When the Cattachs then won a corner deep into stoppage time, the goalkeeper himself went up the other end of the park and headed in an equaliser, sending the match to extra time.

There, James Wallace put Brora ahead before Connor Bunce converted a late penalty to send the Dudgeon Park outfit into the third round of the Scottish Cup.

“Over the course of the whole game, I don’t think we were really at it,” Mackay told club media after the final whistle.

“We didn’t create anywhere near the opportunities that we normally do. We had one slack moment defensively for their goal, but other than that we limited them to very little - it’s just that going forward we didn’t have the flow we normally do.

“Once we scored in extra time and got the penalty, it was comfortable, but it wasn’t a comfortable afternoon overall for sure.

“For my save, we had committed a lot of men forward, and the boy probably doesn’t realis how much time he has because as soon as he takes a touch I sprint out and stick a hand out to make the save.

“When we got the corner, I got the shout to go, and as soon as the goalie goes up people in the box panic, they don’t know what to do. You see that all the time.

“I saw the ball coming towards me, and I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best.”

Brora manager Steven Mackay was full of praise for his goalkeeper’s contributions to the game, but agreed that it was hardly a vintage Cattachs performance

“Just when you think you’ve seen it all in football, the Scottish Cup never fails to deliver,” he added.

“It was a really poor game, a terrible game. It wasn’t much of a contest, and you always felt that one goal might nick it.

“Cowdenbeath probably grew into the game in the second half and created some half-chances, and we looked devoid of ideas. They got their goal with five minutes to go, and then it was all hands to the pump.

“We put Ross Draper up top, but it didn’t look like we would create anything. Doing that, we were so open at the back, and Cowdenbeath have a great chance to make it 2-0 and win the game, but Cammy produces an unbelievable save.

“He gave us a nod when we got the corner, and we sent him up, and it’s an unbelievable header. If a striker puts that in, you’re thinking it’s an unbelievable finish.

“I’m delighted for Cammy having those two moments in the game, and that’s what the Scottish Cup and football is all about – those special moments that leave a mark. Cammy certainly did that.

“We got a lifeline, so we told the boys to go and capitalise on it in extra time, and we did that by scoring a second and third.

“Moments like that galvanise you. We are really restricted in our squad numbers, but I’m so proud of how we stuck together and how the boys somehow dug out a win.

“I’m delighted that we’re through. At this stage it’s always a case of finding a way to win the game, I just didn’t expect it to happen the way it did.”