Rothes defender Paul MacLeod dreamt of last-minute Highland League Cup final winner against Buckie Thistle
ROTHES' Highland League Cup match-winner Paul MacLeod dreamt of his magic moment long before heading Alan Pollock's 94th minute cross into the back of the net at Christie Park on Saturday afternoon.
The defender's glanced header sealed a 2-1 victory for Rothes over Buckie Thistle and secured the club's maiden Highland League Cup success in the most dramatic of fashion.
For MacLeod, it was a moment he had envisaged. He was so sure he would score, in fact, he even told Buckie Thistle goalkeeper Daniel Bell he would do so before the ball came into the box.
"I actually did dream about it," he said. "I said to one of the fans the other day that I had a dream I was going to score a last-minute goal.
"I said to the goalie before that corner 'it's in the lights, Paul MacLeod is going to score the winner' and I did.
"It was the first time I had been up for a corner. I thought I would take a gamble with it being the last chance to save it going into extra time.
"We were down to ten men and the boys were on their last legs. It was just jubilation when the ball hit the net, I'm so happy for everyone."
While this is the first Highland League Cup in Rothes' 82-year history, MacLeod himself picked up the trophy with Nairn in 2011.
However, this win was extra special due to the fact the defender, who was not even due to start the match until team mate Ali Stark was forced into isolation after coming into contact with a Covid-19 case, scored the latest of late winners.
He added: "I'm absolutely delighted to get two medals and even more so that I've scored the winning goal.
"I was expecting to be on the bench. We were going to go with the same team because they had won the semi final.
"Then I got a phone call from the manager on Friday night saying that, unfortunately, Ali Stark couldn't make it so he said he was putting me in from the start.
"It has been a crazy 24 hours, going from that to playing the 90 minutes and scoring the winner. I'm delighted."
A first trophy in 41 years is just the start for this Rothes side – with MacLeod saying the aim is to keep building.
The 31-year-old also had a word for the Rothes ultras, who couldn't be at Christie Park due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions but have been very vocal supporters of the Speysiders throughout the campaign.
"This is just the start now for Rothes to build now in the league," he said. "We have got a great manager in Ross Jack and everybody has got massive respect for him.
"He leads by example and I've never played for a manager who the boys have got so much respect for.
"Last season, with all the ultras coming together, there was a close-knit community between the supporters, the committee, the players and management – this day just tops it off.
"Hopefully the fans had a good night in Rothes."
