Scottish Cup Saturday sees Buckie Thistle, Fraserburgh, Banks o’ Dee, Brora Rangers and Brechin City aiming to do Highland League football proud
Five Highland League clubs are dreaming of Scottish Cup glory today, while ten more focus on the bread-and-butter of league football.
The carrot of a place in the fourth round of the cup and a possible draw against a Premiership big gun dangled before north clubs.
Buckie Thistle’s hopes of emulating last season’s progress to round four and their big day at Celtic hinges on a tough trip to face Clydebank, who are unbeaten leaders of the West of Scotland League.
The Bankies knocked Elgin City out three years ago and won 3-0 at Keith in the last round, so Buckie will need to be at their best at Holm Park.
Brora Rangers have a tough task at Championship high-flyers Livingston with another second tier side, Hamilton Accies, head to Aberdeen to take on Banks o’ Dee.
Fraserburgh might fancy their chances at home to League 1 Annan Athletic and there’s a battle between two former SPFL sides in Fife when current Highland League leaders Brechin City visit Lowland League Cowdenbeath.
In the league itself, there’s an opportunity for Deveronvale and Forres Mechanics to battle their way back into the top half of the table - weather permitting.
The whole of the Highland League programme was wiped out because of snowy conditions last week, and Vale’s trip to bottom side Strathspey Thistle will rely on a thaw taking place in Grantown for the 2pm kick-off.
If the game is played and Vale repeated their success over Jags earlier this season, they would jump above two more fancied clubs in Buckie and Fraserburgh into eighth spot.
Forres Mechanics could also leap over the coastal pair into at least ninth if they were to defeat Turriff United at Mosset Park.
It’s a first game for David MacKay as Mechanics’ first team coach alongside Steven MacDonald and Mark Holmes.
Win, lose or draw, Keith can’t move from 13th spot in the league as they take on Clach at Kynoch Park, looking to build on their fine 3-1 win over Buckie in the Maroons’ last outing two weeks ago.
Huntly take on Wick Academy for the fourth time this season, and having won the previous three - one with a Scottish Cup penalty shoot-out - the Christie Park men will be fancied to take full points back down the road from Harmsworth Park.
Rothes’ new manager Ronnie Sharp is aiming for a first win in charge of the struggling Speysiders, but won’t find it easy away to a Formartine United side that’s won eight of their last 11 outings in all competitions.
