Inverurie Locos forward Martin Bavidge is determined not to let his side’s best opportunity of silverware this season pass it by in tonight’s Aberdeenshire Shield final against Banks o’ Dee.
Locos have not lifted a trophy since they won the same competition in 2014 when Bavidge netted a double to help the Garioch men defeat Turriff United 5-0 at Christie Park.
Inverurie are back at Huntly tonight in an attempt to recapture the trophy and the 36-year-old former Peterhead attacker wants to get his hands on another winner’s medal.
Bavidge said: “Winning trophies was one of the things I wanted to do when I came away from the senior ranks, where there are not many opportunities to win anything.
“There is the league title every year, which only one team can win.
“There is also the Challenge Cup but when you’re operating at League 1 or League 2 level it’s difficult to compete against Championship sides, while Rangers were also involved in recent seasons.
“Winning things doesn’t really happen very often, especially with Peterhead coming out of the Aberdeenshire Shield.
“Coming back to the Highland League was a chance to win something and I managed to do that when we last won the shield.
“To win it again would be great.
“The cup competitions give Locos the best opportunity to win trophies, given the strength in depth in the squads of the teams challenging for the league.
“There are other competitions as well and we’ve got the Highland League Cup to come, but this presents us with our best chance of a trophy this season.”
Bavidge is refusing to take anything for granted against Locos’ junior opponents, who defeated Highland League sides Formartine United, Buckie Thistle and Turriff United to set up tonight’s encounter.
He added: “I suppose we would go in as favourites as we play in the Highland League but a lot of guys in their team have played at the top end of the Highland League and are still capable of playing at that level.
“Everybody’s circumstances are different, so there are different reasons why some of them are playing at that level.
“I don’t think there’s any huge advantage and sometimes being the underdogs can be easier.
“It should be a good competitive game.”
