Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart hopes this is the season he can check the Highland League Cup off the list of trophies he has won.
The competition is missing from the Jags manager’s CV and as his side begin their bid with a rescheduled match against Deveronvale at Victoria Park tonight, Stewart hopes it is the first step towards cup glory for the club.
He said: “The Highland League Cup is the biggest cup competition in our league and one everyone is involved in.
“It’s also the one everyone wants to win. It’s the last game of the season and is one cup I haven’t won so it would be great to do that this season.
“But we know how tough it is going to be. We beat Deveronvale 1-0 earlier in the season and they deserved a draw in the game. They also beat us last year and twice the season before so we know we’re in for a difficult game.
“They always seem to raise their game for us but we’re looking forward to the game.”
Defender Kieran Adams is back from offshore while goalkeeper Daniel Bell is also available again.
But strikers John Macleod, Sam Robertson and defender Shaun Carroll are injured.
Keith manager Dean Donaldson is wary of an improving Lossiemouth who are the visitors to Kynoch Park in their rescheduled first round tie tonight.
He said: “It will be tough. Lossiemouth’s form has picked up in recent weeks and it is important we make a good start to the game.
“We have a few injuries and suspensions to deal with, which means our backline is not as strong as it could be. But the team has been playing well recently.
“We have a lot of young boys at the club but we’re seeing progress and the loan lads who have come in have done really well. Hopefully we can keep that going and get through to the next round.”
Rothes are scheduled to host Nairn County, but, having not played since a 3-0 win over Clachnacuddin on October 26, Speysiders manager Ross Jack is not counting on the Mackessack Park surface being playable.
Jack said: “There has been severe frost and the pitch is rock hard, but there is a thaw about to take place. It will be touch and go.
“It’s getting frustrating now. We are desperate to get playing again. We are on the back of decent form in the league too, we have been doing quite well.”
