After beating Buckie Thistle in a thrilling quarter-final Mark Cowie would love to lead Fraserburgh to R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup glory.
Logan Watt’s late goal earned the Broch a 3-2 win against the Jags in a classic last eight encounter at Victoria Park, which sets up a semi-final meeting with Banks o’ Dee at Bellslea on March 1.
Fraserburgh have won the Highland League Cup twice in their history – 1959 and 2006 – and it is the only trophy Cowie has yet to win since being appointed manager in April 2015.
He said: “We didn’t get to grips with certain aspects of the game in the first half, but a few words at half-time seemed to reinvigorate us.
“In the second half we were a different beast, there was a different energy about us and there was a belief about us.
“I’m not saying we had a bad first half, but second half we were really good and I’m delighted with the win.
“We want to win this cup, I’ve been trying for a while and the club’s been trying for a while, but nobody just gives it to you.
“I was playing the last time we won it in 2006, we’ll give it our best shot, but all four teams still in it want to win it.”
Fast start
Fraserburgh took the lead with 80 seconds on the clock. From a Buckie corner they broke at pace, Greg Buchan’s header clear found Aidan Sopel, who in turn fed Scott Barbour and with the Jags caught short at the back he passed to Connor Wood, who raced through on goal and found the left corner of the net.
Within a minute Thistle equalised when Joe McCabe crossed from the right and the unmarked Aaron Nicolson headed into the right corner from six yards.
In the 16th minute the hosts took the lead. A loose touch from Ross Aitken inside his own box led to Jack MacIver going down as he challenged Aitken and goalkeeper Joe Barbour for the ball.
Although Barbour eventually gathered, referee Lewis Brown pointed to the penalty spot and MacIver fired into the top left corner.
Soon after Buckie goalkeeper Mark Ridgers made a tremendous fingertip save to repel Fraser Mackie’s flick.
Broch turn things around
Fraserburgh made a strong start to the second half and restored parity in the 55th minute when Joshua Hawkins’ cross from the left broke for Scott Barbour to score at the back post.
Almost straight from kick-off the Jags nearly retook the lead, but Lyall Keir’s angled effort was straight at Joe Barbour.
Buckie’s task became harder when captain Sam Pugh was sent off in the 72nd minute.
He had been booked for dissent in the first period and was shown a second yellow card and then a red for a challenge on Buchan.
To their credit Buckie defended well after that, but Fraserburgh found a winner in the third minute of stoppage time.
Jamie Beagrie’s excellent pass released Scott Barbour on the left and his cross was finished by sub Watt inside the six-yard box.
Jags set for trophyless campaign
With Buckie ninth in the Breedon Highland League this loss ends their hopes of winning silverware this season.
Boss Lewis MacKinnon said: “To lose it in the last minute was a sucker-punch, we gave possession away and shot ourselves in the foot.
“What a shift the boys put in, especially when we were down to 10 men, they defended brilliantly.
“But it’s a hard luck story which seems to be the story of our season.
“There were too many yellow card being flashed about. Sam got booked for questioning a decision in the first half, he pulled out of the challenge in the second half and the yellow was out pretty quickly which made it tougher.
“Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t decisions that cost us, but I think Sam pulled out of the challenge.”
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