World News – GB – Hibs v Brora Rangers LIVE: Updates as Hibees take on Highland League winners

Hibernian survived a second half to calm down past Brora Rangers in their first Betfred Cup Group B draw thanks to a brace from Stevie Mallan and a late Paul Hanlon header

It looked like the Highland League winners would be at the end of the proverbial cricket score when the midfielder struck twice in the opening 11 minutes to put the hosts in a dominant position

However, Dale Gillespie’s second-half free kick kept Steven Mackay’s men back in the competition in their opener for nearly seven months.

Hanlon headed out late from Mallan’s corner to seal the three points for Hibs against repeat visitors

Jack Ross was due to announce the changes for a Hibs team hit by injury and international calls, with six first-team players in total unavailable

There were eight new faces among the starting XI, including Dillon Barnes and Stephen McGinn, as goaltending coach Craig Samson was an unlikely name among the substitutes

Meanwhile, David Gray and Darren McGregor were back on the side for their first appearances since February and deadline signing Kyle Magennis received his Easter Road bow from the bench

Mallan was involved from the start and after Melker Hallberg failed to convert from his corner in the opening minutes he grabbed a Colin Williamson error, depriving the defender of possession before shooting low in front Smart for the purpose of the visit

The Cattachs striker managed to get his hands on that effort and added a touch to Mallan’s second four minutes later, but there was little he could do to stop the midfielder from coming home. after an intelligent return from Hallberg to the edge of the zone

Jamie Gullan should have added a third in the 15th minute, but he sent his header from far to a gray cross, while Malin made a smart save to deny Hallberg at the near post

Drey Wright was also off target when Gray beat Ally MacDonald on the touchline and brought the ball back into the zone only for the winger to shoot very close to Malin’s right corner

For their part, the visitors made a few forays into the Hibs’ half in Opening 45, but Barnes was a virtual spectator for the vast majority of the first period

Ross was forced to send Martin Boyle in for Jamie Murphy four minutes into the second period when the loaned Rangers winger limped with an injury

Malin continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers and made a spectacular save to deny McGregor’s header from a Hallberg corner

The Cattachs had barely shown an attack threat, and Barnes may have been caught cold for their surprise strike on the hour

Paul Hanlon slammed Jordan MacRae to the edge of the area and Gillespie pushed the kick into the far corner past the loaned QPR back in the contest

The Highland League champions were gaining confidence and MacDonald’s cross who hit the side net did enough to worry the Hibs substitute before Andrew MacRae saw his effort stalled just inside the area

Christian Doidge was introduced from the bench as Ross turned to some of his heavier artillery, but saw his effort blocked by a nice pass from Mallan as Malin made another impressive save to hit the lowered head of Gray

Substitute Paul Brindle got Barnes back with a 20-yard shot, but stopper Hibs saw it

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Brora Rangers: Malin, Pickles, Williamson, Nicolson, A Macdonald, Kelly, Maclean, Gillespie, JMacrae, A Macrae, G Morrison

Another good stop from Malin as he pushes Gray’s bowed head into a pointless turn

Doidge almost has a third, but his effort is locked in the six-yard box and is out for a corner

Kyle Magennis debuts with Hibs as he replaces Stephen McGinn, while Christian Doidge replaces Drey Wright

Wow, that wasn’t in the script, adorable Gillespie kick low in the left corner to bring Brora back

Visitors have a well-placed free kick after Hanlon slams Jordan MacRae on the edge of the box

The keeper reacted brilliantly to shove a Darren McGregor header from Hallberg’s corner to keep the score 2-0

Dillon Barnes is forced into some sort of action, diving to the feet of a Brora striker after a clean ball

The goalkeeper initially appears to have lost the ball, but catches it on the second attempt

Brora’s John Pickles receives first yellow card of the night after hacking Jamie Gullan

There is however some concern for Jamie Murphy, who has just come off the pitch with an injury

The game is set at a pretty nice intensity though, increasing the possibility of seeing Kyle Magennis at some point

Mallan craves a hat-trick, but he is not on target on the fly after being caught by Gullan at the edge of the zone

The Cattachs have made some interesting forays forward, but have yet to cross the 18-yard zone

Good save from Malin to his left as he shoots Hallberg at the near post

Drey Wright and Jamie Gullan both had half a chance for Hibs before that, but neither man was able to convert

Jamie Gullan has a great opportunity to make three as he heads for a David Gray cross from the right, but his effort goes right past the far post

Nicely finished by Mallan for his second; The midfielder places his effort in the corner of a Hallberg shot towards the edge of the zone

Mallan steals Colin Williamson before running to goal to get home, despite Joe Malin getting his hands on it

It should already be 1-0 Hibs, Mallan’s corner goes to the six-yard box, but Melker Hallberg can only turn and shoot at close range

After an announcement from PA tearing the eardrum and taking the knee, we are on our way to Easter Road

Brora has yet to kick off his Highland League campaign after the season was postponed to the end of November following the latest round of coronavirus restrictions that have prevented fans from returning to games

The Cattachs have been able to feature in a few pre-season games against League Two Elgin City and an Orkney XI, but haven’t played a competitive game since the 4-1 win over Wick Academy in March

It ended 1-1 and he got a call from Jack Ross to join him in Sunderland as a backstage staff member

What a story it would be for the 36-year-old to take off the gloves tonight

Debut for Dillon Barnes and Stephen McGinn, while new recruit Kyle Magennis is among the replacements

Good evening, Hibees! Jack Ross named his starting lineup for tonight’s Betfred Cup face to face with the Brora Rangers Delivered by @VittoriaEd picTwittercom / lPciTKL2bd

Jack Ross spoke about his new signing ahead of tonight’s game reassuring that loyal Green and White Hibs are ‘ready to win’ in the Betfred Cup this season

« We know this is a chance to go chasing success and earn silverware, but we also know the benefits this brings, although unfortunately not in the box office receipts by the minute , in cash prizes and in sponsorship

« So we know we have a responsibility to move forward and hopefully win the tournament. We have to hopefully get past the group stages first and then go from there »

READ MORE: Hibs manager Jack Ross highlights Kyle Magennis attributes as he strives for Betfred Cup ‘glory’

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Hibernien FC, Brora Rangers FC, Easter Road (Hibernian FC), Paul Hanlon, Stevie Mallan, Jack Ross, Highland Football League