GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup final: Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart wants to defeat Brora Rangers and clinch cup success for Jags fans at Nairn County's Station Park
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BUCKIE Thistle will go all out to give their faithful fans the silverware they deserve in today’s Highland League Cup final.
That’s the promise from manager Graeme Stewart who will lead his team into battle at Nairn’s Station Park against Brora Rangers.
While it is incredible to think that the Victoria Park side could end up winning 25 consecutive Highland League matches and still not claim the trophy, one game will shape their destiny this weekend.
Stewart admits the hurt of losing last season’s cup final to a last-minute goal against Rothes can spur his team on to go one better.
He also says that unlike their defeat at Christie Park in the last final, Buckie will be backed by their loyal support on the day.
“This is the biggest club in the Highland League with the biggest support and it will make a difference in helping the team,” he said.
“The biggest thing is that we want to make it a nice day for them because they deserve it for the backing they have given us.
“We need to win something. If it isn’t the league, we need to win the cup. These boys want it so badly.
“We lost the final last season to Rothes and trust me that was hurtful, a real sore one.”
Jags led Rothes in that last final but the Speysiders produced a strong comeback culminating in Paul MacLeod’s last-gasp winner.
Stewart and his men won’t want to leave anything to chance this weekend and will be keen to see green and white ribbons being tied on the trophy before the final whistle if they are in a comfortable position.
A repeat of the recent league encounter between the teams would do Buckie nicely, as they thrashed the Sutherland side 5-0 at Victoria Park in a match Stewart felt flattered his team
“It was never a 5-0, the game was much closer than the score suggests and we know it is going to be such a tough game,” he said.
“I would say it is a 50-50 game. Brora are underrated in the league, they should be fighting with us for the title and we know how good they are. We know their players very well and everyone here knows it’s going to be tough.
“Momentum is a great thing and we want to keep that going but against a team with all the experience they have in full-time football, we know how hard a final it will be for us.”
Buckie’s surge in form has not been confined to league action as they have won 16 consecutive games in all competitions since losing to Banks o’ Dee in a penalty shoot-out in the Aberdeenshire Shield in December.
