PICTURES: Buckie Thistle player assistant manager Lewis Mackinnon praises team's 5-0 romp over Clachnacuddin and targets another Highland League Cup final this weekend
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A third consecutive Highland League Cup final is Buckie Thistle’s target this weekend - and this time they want to lift the silverware.
Assistant boss Lewis Mackinnon says Jags are determined to beat Banks O’ Dee on Saturday and set up a showdown match against Brechin City or Inverurie Locos for the right to win the coveted trophy.
Buckie lost to Rothes and Brora Rangers in the last two finals, and were also defeated by Fraserburgh in the recent Aberdeenshire Shield final - all by the same 2-1 scoreline.
“We want to get into the final again,” said Mackinnon. “It would be our third League final in a row if we get there and we want to make it a successful one this time - it’s long overdue.
“But it will be a tough match. We played Banks O’ Dee at home this season and it ended in a draw, I thought we shaded the play but our finishing wasn’t on point. They might be a different beast with new management but they are a good team and it will be really tough.
“We are looking for a positive outcome because we play them in the league the following Saturday so it is a double header and we will be looking to take one win after another if we can.
“They beat us on pens in the Shield semi last season when we didn’t take our chances that day either. We know we can go toe-to-toe with anyone, play good football and create chances so I’m confident that as long as we can take our chances on Saturday, we will get a positive outcome.
“It’s been too long without silverware with cup finals and even that run in the league last season. We’ve come so close and now we need to tick each game off as it comes.
“It’s eight league games after this semi-final so if we keep winning games we will end up with two trophies, it’s as simple as that. It’s all in our own hands and we couldn’t have asked for more.”
Three goals straight from the training ground helped Buckie thump Clach and stay top of the league on Saturday.
Jags’ 5-0 success pleased Mackinnon, particularly with two strikes in the opening five minutes and a brace from full back Joe McCabe, who has been encouraged to get forward more often.
“The most pleasing factor was we came out of the traps well and got a two-goal lead really early in the game,” said Mackinnon.
“That’s something we haven’t been doing in recent months although we have been winning games we’ve been coming strong in the second half.
“The final scoreline was pleasing and the second half performance was very controlled.
“We didn’t have to over exert ourselves but when we did we upped the pace and got the goals.”
McCabe scored at the start of each half with Marcus Goodall, Josh Peters and Kyle MacLeod also netting.
“We are telling Joe to push on and get both full backs nice and high, so for Joe to get not just one but two goals in the game, that’s brilliant. They were both very similar goals coming in at the back post and that’s the way we want to play.
“Marcus’ goal was another one we’ve worked on in the training ground where he is making the third man run into the box late down that inside right channel.
The third one was full back to full back where Cohen Ramsay, who had an excellent game put the ball over for Joe McCabe.
Some of his (Ramsay's) play was excellent.
"Josh as well, a great finish to slot under the goalie. He had missed a couple earlier in the game which is not like him but he kept going and kept his composure.
"I was delighted for big Kyle to score his header, he has another chance before that but he got up well to head it back across goal.
"Every one of them was a really good goal in my book and how we want to play."
