Rothes 2 Buckie Thistle 1: Dramatic last-gasp winner seals Speysiders' maiden Highland League Cup success
A DRAMATIC last-gasp winner from defender Paul MacLeod sealed 10-man Rothes' first-ever Highland League Cup success as they beat Buckie Thistle 2-1 at Christie Park this afternoon.
MacLeod wasn't even in manager Ross Jack's original line-up – but was given the call last night after Ali Stark was forced into isolation due to his flat mate testing positive for Covid-19.
And it was the defender who rose highest in the 94th minute to power home Allan Pollock's cross and spark scenes of jubilation for the Speysiders.
Buckie Thistle, playing with the wind in their backs in the first period, started well and took the lead after just eight minutes when Joe McCabe slammed Andy MacAskill's corner in from eight yards.
MacAskill almost doubled Buckie's lead on 25 minutes when he smashed a 25-yard effort against the left-hand post.
Just minutes later, at the other end and against the run of play, Rothes equalised. Ally MacKenzie squirmed through the Buckie defence and slotted an effort across the keeper and into the bottom corner from just outside the six-yard box.
That was how it stayed until half-time – with Rothes knowing they would have the wind in their backs in the second half.
Ross Jack's side were beginning to use the wind to their advantage when Craig Cormack was sent off, reducing them to ten men. Having already been booked for a cynical trip on the hour mark, Cormack was dismissed 63 minutes for dissent.
Despite substitute Scott Adams forcing Speysiders' keeper Sean McCarthy into a save just a minute after the red card, Buckie failed to make the most of their man advantage as Rothes had most of the late play.
Jags keeper Daniel Bell was forced into two good saves with 20 minutes to play – first stopping an Allan Pollock free-kick before pulling off a superb save to keep out Gary Kerr's close-range header.
Bell surely thought he had taken the game to extra-time when he denied substitute Ross Gunn with a stunning save as the match entered added on time, but it wasn't to be for Buckie as Rothes stole the day at the last.
After Allan Pollock's corner was cleared back to him, he put a dangerous ball into the area and Paul MacLeod leapt highest amid a group of players to knock into the net.
There was only enough time for the centre to be taken before the final whistle blew – signalling Rothes' maiden Highland League Cup success and their first trophy in more than four decades.
