Highland League season cut short denied fast-improving Rothes a shot at runners-up spot
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ROTHES’ best Highland League season in many years may be considered ‘unfinished business’ by the progressive Speyside outfit.
It was a campaign which saw a managerial change, big changes in playing personnel and a premature finish due to the coronavirus pandemic.
When the plug was pulled by the Highland League in mid-March, Rothes were sitting in fourth place with nine games still to go and a realistic chance of finishing as runners-up to champions Brora Rangers.
The final positions have yet to be determined - it could have a bearing on next year’s Scottish Cup and Challenge Cup - but the Speysiders can certainly reflect on great progress made at the MacKessack.
It all began with Steven MacDonald as the man in charge, eager to build on the club’s climb up the rankings from the dark days of sitting bottom of the league.
In came young defenders Ryan McRitchie from ICT and Ben Johnstone from Ross County, Caley Thistle attacker Aiden Wilson and keeper Ewen Macdonald on loan from Formartine United.
The best signing of the lot came with the capture from Elgin City of Ali Sutherland, who has starred on loan to Rothes from the Borough Briggs club in the previous term.
New goalie Macdonald got off to the worst possible start, picking up a red card just three minutes into his debut as ten-man Rothes battle to a 2-2 draw at Turriff in their league opener.
Midfielder Gragg Main was signed from Nairn, and a thumping 4-1 win over Forres Mechanics and an equally convincing 3-0 success at Lossiemouth had Rothes riding high in the leading pack - but matters were soon to take a turn for the worse.
A home loss to Nairn was followed by a humiliating 5-1 North Cup defeat to lowly Fort William at MacKessack Park.
The writing was on the wall for manager MacDonald, who took charge for the final time in a 3-1 win at Huntly then parted company with the club.
The hunt was on for the Speysiders’ next boss, with Macdonald’’s assistant Gordon Connelly taking the team as caretaker manager.
Wins over Deveronvale and Inverurie sandwiched a heartbreaking last minute loss at eventual champs Brora, before ex-Elgin and Turriff boss Ross Jack was unveiled as the new man at the helm on September 15.
Jack expressed his delight at being appointed and inheriting a solid squad from his predecessor, and set about preparing his new troops for a Scottish Cup tie in his opening match.
Rothes had never won an away match in the national competition in their history but all that changed at Alliance Park in Bellshill, as they beat Lowland League Caledonian Braves 4-3 to march on.
Jack also led Rothes to victory in each of his opening three league fixtures, before a Scottish Cup defeat to Inverurie handed the new boss his first setback.
For the rest of the year, the only thing that could stop the Speysiders’ superb form was the weather.
Seven wins and a draw were secured in eight games through to mid-January, a period where Rothes momentum was challenged by a series of postponements.
The club was hit by an unexpected punishment at the turn of the year when defender Dale Wood was banned for 20 matches and keeper Robbie Donaldson for 12 games due to alleged gambling offences.
After gaining 28 points out of a possible 30 in his first ten league games, boss Jack was finally on the losing side, albeit when runaway leaders Brora were fortunate to again plunder a single goal success over the Speysiders.
A 5-0 loss at Inverurie was a sore one to take for Rothes but proved to be no more than a blip, as four more wins including a Highland League Cup quarter-final win at Keith saw the Moray men hit form again.
With Elgin defender Darryl McHardy and Ross County keeper Tommy Dixon-Hodge brought in on loan, Rothes were looking to push on when the Covid-19 outbreak brought proceedings to an end.
The Speysiders had improved on the previous year’s points tally of 44, clocking up 53 and climbing up six places.
A 70-plus points total and top three finish was certainly well within Rothes’ reach at that point.
The MacKessack Park side and their newly-formed band of ‘Rothes Ultras’ supporters may now be dreaming that a second title triumph in the club’s history isn’t an impossible achievement to aim for in the near future if matters keep going in an upward direction like they are right now.
