Cove Rangers manager John Sheran was elated that his side had completed the first half of what could yet be a memorable cup and league double with victory against Formartine.
The champions are on for a double and Sheran said: “We were just focused on trying to win this game. League Cup finals are always a big event and both teams made the best of it on a difficult pitch, and I’m just delighted we’ve won.
“When they equalised with 10 minutes to go it was always in the back on my mind it might go to penalties, but we always work on the basis we would get another chance and we were certainly pushing for that, then a bit of pressure created the opportunity.”
Sheran and his squad were ready to celebrate in-style after the dramatic late winner from Jason Brown, when he added: “We can then turn our attention to Wednesday night’s big league game at Turriff. It was great to get this win and it sets us up nicely for that one.”
Formartine United manager Kris Hunter was hurting after his side had conceded that late winner.
Hunter said: “I am disappointed with the two goals we gave away, I don’t think Cove had to work for them and we should be dealing with them a lot better than we did. I thought our goalkeeper Andy Reid was fouled for their second goal, normally nobody is allowed to touch the goalkeeper when he comes for the ball but at least two players jumped into Andy.
“We stayed in the six-yard box too long when the ball came in and that gave them the opportunity. It is a disappointing result but there are fine margins in games as important as this one, and we have to take the opportunities when they come our way. We had to try to get Cove chasing the game.
“We had three great opportunities in the first half but did not take them. We have to take our opportunities against Cove as they will come back and hurt teams, and that is what has happened today.”
Second-half chances were also squandered and Hunter added: “Conor Gethins brought a save out of Stuart McKenzie, then Graeme Rodger put one over the bar.
“The players showed character coming back from a goal down and I thought we would then have gone on and won the game, but it’s always difficult when going up the hill at Bellslea. I was desperate to win the toss and make sure we were playing down the hill in the second half, but we lost the toss as well so it wasn’t a good start.”