Fraserburgh’s latest signing Owen Cairns is loving life at Bellslea but believes he and his team-mates face a huge test at home to Inverurie Locos in the Aberdeenshire Cup quarter-final tonight.
The Fort William lad, a former Ross County youth, who has also played for Strathspey Thistle and Turriff United, said: “After beating Buckie Thistle 3-1 at Victoria Park in the league, we now have a difficult Aberdeenshire Cup tie tomorrow evening at Bellslea against Locos.
“They have also started the season well, but we are looking to have a good run in this competition.
“It would be great if I could win my first winner’s medal in senior football, but there are a number of good teams who will be looking to do the same.
“It has all been a bit of a whirlwind, but the players here have been great and have helped me settle into the style of football that Fraserburgh play.
“I’m not being disrespectful to my former clubs, but there is more pressure to perform at a club that is challenging at the top of the table, because if you don’t play to a high standard there’s another player waiting in the wings to grab your jersey.”
Broch boss Mark Cowie has been pleased with Cairns’s contribution to the team since he made his debut against Wick at the start of the season.
He said “Owen has come in and grabbed his chance at right back, replacing Lewis Davidson, who missed a large part of pre-season training but is now back in the frame.
“We are easing him back into the fold, as Owen has been excellent.
“Owen is calm and really fit; gets up and down the touchline well and is very comfortable on the ball, so he is fitting in really well here.”
Locos manager Neil Cooper who is equally aware that the stakes are high tonight, said: “The winner of this one will be away to either Buckie Thistle or Turriff United in the semi-final.
“It’s another away tie. Since I came to the club I think we’ve only had one at home, against Banks o’ Dee, but that’s the luck of the draw, I suppose.
“We played Fraserburgh quite a lot in cup competitions last year, so we know they are a strong side, but we did get a good victory against them at their place last season.
“We know we will have to put in another good performance to get a positive result, but Fraserburgh also know that there are no gimmes at this level, you’ve got to turn up on the night to progress to the next round.
“We can take confidence from a great 3-1 home win last Saturday against a very dangerous Forres Mechanics side, even when we went two goals up they never gave up.”
Locos’ veteran centre half Eric Watson still has a two league game suspension to serve but is available for this one, while striker Chris Angus misses out with a groin injury.
