CUP FINAL BUCKIE UTD V FOCHABERS PLAYED AT KYNOCH PARK.
FOCHABERS KEEPER KEIRAN BURCHILL HAS NO CHANCE WITH BUCKIE UTD’S 4 TH GOAL
BUCKIE United lifted their first piece of silverware in 10 years – and now have a second in their sights. United came from behind to defeat FC Fochabers 5-2 in Friday night’s WJ Tewnion Memorial Trophy final at Keith’s Kynoch Park. Less than 48 hours later the teams met again in the semifinals of the Highland Welfare Cup, with Buckie winning again. Friday’s final was the fourth meeting between the sides this season, with United looking for their first taste of victory. The coast outfit must have been fearing more disappointment when striker Sean Petrie fired Fochabers into a tenth minute lead. However Buckie turned things around over the remainder of the half and effectively had the cup won by the interval as they scored four times in a 30-minute period. Fochabers’ lead lasted just four minutes as Callum Mollison was first to react to a knock down from John Mellon to tap in from close range. He added a second on 33 minutes following a one-two with Paul Mellon, before John Mellon’s 30-yard free kick slipped through Fochabers keeper Kieran Burchell’s hands to make it 3-1. Mollison completed a first half hat-trick when he was first to react in a goalmouth scramble and fired home.
Fochabers did get a goal back on half-time, Petrie cutting in to score his second from an acute angle. Any lingering Fochabers hopes were removed by John Mellon’s second goal on 56 minutes, a back post finish. Fochabers then has Adam irvine sent off for two bookings, ending his team’s interest as Buckie comfortably held on for their long-awaited triumph. It got even better for the United boys on Sunday when they edged out Fochabers in extra time. Once again Petrie scored the opening goal for Fochabers. After a scoreless first 45
minutes he went through on goal to fire home. But like Friday’s final, Buckie were quick to draw level as within two minutes Paul Mellon embarked on a solo run to score from 12 yards. On 63 minutes Buckie were awarded a penalty which Graham McLean converted to edge his team in front. They held on to their lead until the 87th minute when that man Petrie again cut inside and rifled home from an acute angle to put the tie into extra time. Two games in 40 hours had taken its toll on the weary players’ legs so an additional
30 minutes was the last thing the teams wanted but Buckie found an extra reserve of energy and McLean pounced on a loose ball, to restore United’s lead on 100 minutes. Four minutes into the second half Fochabers’ resistance was broken when John Mellon got the break of the ball when he charged down a pass back to the goalkeeper, before turning and finishing high into the net from 14 yards. That put Buckie into the Highland final where they will play fellow Moray league side Aberlour Villa, who defeated Grantown 3-2 in the other semi-final.