Rothes manager Ross Jack was thrilled to start with a 4-3 Scottish Cup victory against Caledonian Braves in his first game in charge.
The former Turriff and Elgin City boss was named as Steven MacDonald’s successor last week and was in the dugout for the first time in Saturday’s first-round encounter in Motherwell.
The Mackessack Park side were 3-0 up thanks to an Ali Sutherland double either side of a Craig Cormack strike before Ross McNeil pulled one back for the hosts.
Cormack netted again before Caledonian Braves scored twice inside the final 10 minutes through Evan Galasso and Jack McDowall to set up a nervy finish.
Jack said: “I was absolutely chuffed. It was a good performance from the boys.
“We made hard work of it towards the end but the boys were feeling a bit of fatigue by then and they threw everything at us.
“The game should have been out of sight by then.
“We are delighted to go through.
“We played some good football and scored some well-worked goals.
“It was a very pleasing 90 minutes and a top-class team performance. It is something to build on.”
Elsewhere, Deveronvale enjoyed an impressive 1-1 draw with Spartans at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh.
Colin Charlesworth passed up a fine opportunity to break the deadlock when he fired wide for the visitors.
Cameron Dawson put the hosts in front from a Leeroy Makovora cross after 26 minutes before Harry Noble restored parity in the 34th minute.
Dawson thought he had netted the winner for Spartans in the second half but his header was cleared on the line by Lewis Dunbar. The appeals from the Spartans players that the ball had already crossed the line were waved away.
The sides will meet again at Princess Royal Park on Saturday with Vale’s scheduled Highland League match at Fort William postponed.
Forres v Clach and Nairn v Wick have also been called off this Saturday due to the Scottish Cup replay between Clach and Nairn.
