Buckie Thistle gain cup revenge by knocking Huntly ojut of Aberdeenshire Shield while holders Banks o’ Dee are shocked by Deveronvale and former player
Darryl McHardy’s late strike gained cup revenge for Buckie Thistle against Huntly on Wednesday night.
Aberdeenshire Cup finalists Huntly defeated Jags in the semi-finals of that competition a month ago, and the sides were drawn together in the first round of the Aberdeenshire Shield at Victoria Park.
Huntly were without 20-goal ace marksman Angus Grant for the trip to Buckie, who started with ex-Aberdeen and Elgin City man Liam Harvey in attack.
A scrappy contest was decided in the 87th minute when McHardy continued his cup exploits this season with the winning goal.
The former Elgin player, who has scored in both of Buckie’s Scottish Cup matches this season, headed home from a corner to earn his team a trip to junior side Hermes in the quarter-finals.
Deveronvale caused the upset of the night after player manager Garry Wood’s double was enough to oust holders Banks o’ Dee.
Wood returned to previous club Dee and named himself in the starting line-up.
Vale survived having their woodwork struck twice in the first half, with Wood netting twice in quick succession after 35 and 40 minutes.
Dee pulled one back through Iain Vigurs on the hour mark but couldn’t score again past a Vale side which finished with ten men following Jack Mitchell’s second yellow card 20 minutes from time.
Deveronvale’s win set up a derby quarter-final at Turriff United on November 20.
The night’s other first round tie saw Formartine United win 1-0 at Dyce.
Jonny Crawford missed a second half penalty for the visitors before Aidan Combe’s 78th minute goal won the tie, with United visiting either Inverurie Locos or Aberdeen in the last eight.
Those two teams meet next Tuesday (November 12) to decide the last quarter-finalist, with Keith and Fraserburgh also meeting in the last eight after both received first round byes.
