Highland League Cup semi awaits Buckie Thistle, while league runners-up spot is a target for manager Graeme Stewart
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BUCKIE Thistle boss Graeme Stewart does not like being second best, but it is a position he would take in this year’s league rankings.
Finishing runners-up to likely champions Brora Rangers would represent good business for the Jags, but winning the League Cup is Stewart’s priority.
He has a run of three difficult league games coming up before the toughest clash of all, the cup semi at Brora on March 14.
With Buckie picking up five wins and a draw in their last six league outings, they were keen to carry on the momentum at Nairn County last Saturday.
See SHFLTV YouTube highlights from Buckie's last outing against Lossiemouth below.
So although Stewart was disappointed to see the game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, it gave several players carrying injuries some time to heal up for the big games ahead.
“I wanted the game on Saturday and I was gutted that it was called off,” said Stewart.
“But in hindsight, seeing the boys who are coming back to training this week, I realise they would have struggled to come back if they had played a full game on Saturday.”
Captain Kevin Fraser, Andy Macaskill, Stevie Ross, Sam Robertson and keeper Daniel Bell were all struggling to make the Nairn game, but have a good chance of playing at home to Inverurie Locos this weekend.
Stewart added: “We just had the Saturday off. At least four were rated as doubtful so we just used it as a rest because we’ve got a massive run coming up with Inverurie, Rothes and Huntly to face in seven days.”
Brora’s win at Fraserburgh on Saturday all but sealed the title, and though Broch are favourites to finish second, their defeat gives the rest of the chasing pack an opportunity.
Stewart said: “It is going to be difficult to achieve but we are confident again after a sticky spell a few months back, we are playing well now and the team is stronger.
“Second place is a possibility and we have to push for it. If we can finish second we’ve got to be honest and say it’s a successful season although I’m never happy unless I’m winning something.”
It is three years since Jags claimed their last silverware with a league and Aberdeenshire Cup double, and they will go all out to end the wait next month.
“The cup game at Brora is a huge one for us,” said Stewart. “They gave us a bit of a hiding the last time we were up there and we need to come up with a different game plan.
“It’s the best opportunity we’ve got for silverware and we want to win something because we haven’t won anything in a few years at Buckie, and that’s not good enough.”
