Cowie: I can’t look past Cup

MARK COWIE insists Fraserburgh’s only focus is cup glory – despite shocks galore in the title race.

A series of unexpected slip-ups from leading contenders Brechin and Buckie have given hope to the pursuing pack.

Defending champions Brechin have dropped points in three of their last six outings, while Buckie drew 1-1 at home to Inverurie at the weekend – a third lapse in five games.

With pressure and weight of matches taking a toll, Broch boss Cowie could easily declare it game on.

But Cowie insists his team, who recorded a fourth consecutive win at Nairn on Saturday, are only focused on the March 30 Highland League Cup Final showdown with Brora.

Cowie, whose side sit six points behind Brechin with an extra game played, said: “We’re playing OK but you’re not going to hear me saying we’re in a title race!

“We just have to look after ourselves. Our form is good. Even where we’ve dropped points at Formartine and at Buckie, we deserved more.

“I’ve said from the start, there will be plenty of twists and turns in the league and there’s still more to come.

“But we have a cup final at the end of the month and it’s all we’re concentrating on – making sure we’re in the best possible shape going into that one against a very good Brora side.”

Fraserburgh came good in the second half at Nairn, running out 3-0 winners with finishes from Ryan Sargent, Scott Barbour and Sean Butcher.

Elsewhere, Brechin secured a 2-0 away win against Clach in Inverness with Grady McGrath and Murray MacKintosh netting in the last 20 minutes.

The win proved vital as Buckie, their strongest challengers, slipped up after Andy Reid’s 63rd-minute finish for the Railwaymen. Josh Peters popped up with a leveller in stoppage time to salvage a point.