Jeffrey played final half with broken bone

Cup drama: Cove defender hopes to be back for pre-season

Cove Rangers full back Stephen Jeffrey played most of the first half of last Saturday’ s Highland League Cup final against Buckie Thistle with a broken bone in an ankle.

The 23- year- old Aberdeen joiner went down under a Shawn Scott challenge in the fifth minute, but did not discover the extent of the injury until re- moving his shinguard at the interval.

Jeffrey said: “I went up for a header early in the game with Shawn and just as I was about to head the ball he gave me a nudge andicamedownontheankle.

“Before the final I had been struggling with my other ankle so I didn’t want to come off.

“I tried to play on. It was a pretty silly thing for meto have done, but it was a cup final, we were 2-0 down.

“I was pretty annoyed and disappointed with the way the game was going so I played on through – as muchonadrenaline asanything else I suppose.”

The Allan Park defender added: “When I took my shinguard off at half-time the lads all said there was no way I could have played on for most of the first half with that injury – but I had.”

Jeffrey was taken to hospital and said: “I have been told there is a slight fracture to my ankle and I might also have ligament damage.

“So I didn’t make thebest decision to stay on until the interval.

“However, we now have about six weeks off before the start of pre- season training so I would like to think I will be fit again before then.

“The doctor gave me the option of having the injury plastered or I could have it wrapped in a support-bandage. I chose the latter as it will save me going to and from the hospital.

“I will need at least a week off my work as I am on crutches.

“It was bad enough los- ing the final, but now I am on crutches i t’s even worse.”

Despite the disappointment of injury and final defeat, Jeffrey had no complaints about the result and added: “Buckie deserved to win as they were the better side. We never turned up and they dominated midfield.

“However, disappointments like that will make us stronger than ever next season.”

DAMAGE REPORT: Stephen Jeffrey did not want to let the team down as they were behind in the final. Photograph: Jim Irvine