Manager’s delight at making history with Speysiders

Rothes manager Steven MacDonald was delighted to have guided his side into the second round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in the Speysiders’ 80-year history.

Their reward is a second-round tie against Annan Athletic at Mackessack Park on October 20.

MacDonald said: “Everyone at the club is delighted. I’m really pleased for the likes of our long-serving kit-man Brian Neish. It’s great for the whole club and the community.

“History has been made and I thought the boys deserved it.

“The opening goal was a great strike. We said we wanted to play at a high-tempo from the start and not let Clach into the game.

“But after scoring that opener we seemed to stop playing a bit.

“We almost scored too early, as can often happen. Clach came back into the game and had a lot of free-kicks late in the half.

“They’re always a threat from set-pieces.

“Our second goal, which came three minutes after halftime, stemmed from goalkeeper Robbie Donaldson playing the ball into the path of Ally Stark. He was in his own half and powered forward to score. Robbie did really well.

“When we took Cammy Mackay on loan from Caley Thistle other goalkeepers might have thrown the toys out of the pram, but he has a fantastic attitude and has kept working hard.”

Clach manager Iain Polworth was left to rue his side’s defensive frailties.

He said: “It was very disappointing to concede such an early goal.

“We were in possession of the ball and ended up giving away a needless corner kick which we didn’t defend at the near post.

“The ball dropped to Jaime Wilson and nobody came out to close him down, which is really frustrating.

“After that we matched them and created chances but we gifted them goals. You can’t afford to do that to a team with the quality they’ve got in attack.

“At the second goal their player ran 70 yards, so that was another cheap goal for us to lose. We should have closed him down.

“At the third one our substitute goalkeeper Ally Maclean has accepted responsibility. He had just come on and is new to the Highland League, but he needs to be stronger there.”