Banks o’ Dee defender Neale Allan believes his side have nothing to fear in tonight’s Aberdeenshire Cup final against Cove Rangers.
The Spain Park side will go into the match as underdogs against the Highland League champions with the match kicking off at 8pm at Harlaw Park in Inverurie.
Former Huntly defender Allan said: “We have a healthy respect for Cove Rangers as they are sitting top of the Highland League.
“But we go into the final as the best junior team in the area and we have defeated Inverurie Locos 5-1, Aberdeen 4-3 and Turriff United 7-0 on our way to the final so we should fear no one.
“We made a statement with those emphatic victories against Locos and Turriff. We probably surprised ourselves by coming away from the Haughs with a 7-0 victory but we are playing with a lot of confidence.”
The sides met in last season’s Aberdeenshire Shield with Cove running out 5-2 winners on that occasion but Allan is confident tonight’s match will be a much closer affair.
He said: “We are a different proposition now. Our fitness levels have increased and we have a bit more experience, including our defender Dean Lawrie who joined us after more than a decade with Cove.
“We know what to expect from Cove. It is going to be a tough game but one we are all looking forward to.”
Cove Rangers are hoping to make it third time lucky, having tasted defeat in the previous two Aberdeenshire Cup finals.
John Sheran’s side were beaten 1-0 by Formartine in last year’s final, while Buckie Thistle defeated them on penalties in 2016.
Cove midfielder Blair Yule, who returned to the club from Arbroath in the summer, said: “We have a good understanding of what Banks o’ Dee are all about.
“They have recorded some impressive wins on their way to the final so we know it is going to be a tough ask.
“It should be a really good game of football and the fact that it is on a Friday night under the lights should hopefully add to the atmosphere.”
Yule added: “I’ve never won the Aberdeenshire Cup or the Aberdeenshire Shield so hopefully I am able to get a winners’ medal this time.
“We have prepared for the game properly and if we can take our league form into this game, having won 10 out of 10 this season, then we are confident we can get the result we are looking for.
“We are certainly not taking anything for granted.”
