Destiny beckons in Pollock’s final shot

Rothes midfielder Alan Pollock will feel he is due some Highland League Cup luck when the Speysiders face Buckie Thistle in the final at Keith’s Kynoch Park on Saturday.

Rothes will be looking to win the trophy for the first time in their history when they face Graeme Stewart’s men after defeating Formartine United in extra time in the semi-finals.

A winner’s medal has so far eluded 30 - year- old Pollock, with the midfielder having been part of a Nairn County side which lost the 2016 final to Brora Rangers on penalties.

Pollock was also denied a shot at success two years previous ly with Clachnacuddin. He had made the move to Nairn shortly before Clach defeated Buckie to lift the trophy.

Pollock is eager to make it third-time lucky this time around.

He said: “I’ve been to the final once with Nairn. We should have beaten Brora that day but we got beaten on penalties.

“I’m hoping for secondtime lucky in a final, although I had just left Clach when they won it in 2014.

“Brora had actually beaten them in the first round but after they fielded an ineligible player and Clach went on to win it.

“I was delighted for them, but obviously a bit gutted about not being there myself at the time. That’s just life.

“Rothes won the league in 1959 but they have never won this competition. To do that from where Rothes were a couple of years ago would be a great achievement.

“Everyone is up for it. I think people were expecting a Formartine versus Brora final, which makes it all the more sweet.

“Even if you go into a higher competition like the Scottish Cup, realistically you are not going to win that and it’s just about trying to get as far as you can.

“The Highland League Cup is achievable for anyone and now we’re in the final it’s a reality.”

Pollock is under no illusions about the task his side will face, with the Jags having knocked out league champions Brora in their semi-final.

Pollock added: “I know quite a lot of the boys at Buckie. To beat Brora just shows the level they’re at.

“They won the league a couple of years ago and they were scoring goals for fun.

“I used to always think of Buckie as a tough opponent, but now I think they are tough and have great ability. They have got flair all over the park, and a lot of experience as well.

“It’s going to be a really hard game and it could go either way, but we’ve got to fancy ourselves.”

Pollock feels winning silverware would cap an impressive impact made by Ross Jack since he took over at Mackessack Park last September, with the former Elgin City and Turriff United manager having led the Moray side to a third-placed finish in his first season in charge.

Pollock added: “I’ve got a lot of time for him. He’s been good to a lot of the boys, he’s fair and honest.

“I wouldn’t say fear, but he’s got that older style management where you show them a lot more respect for some reason.

“It just seems to be the way it has been for all the boys since he came in.

“He put his marker down early and the boys have just taken to it.

“It has obviously improved us.

“We finished third in the league last year and now we are in the Highland League Cup final.

“It’s a great achievement for his first season as well.”

NEARLY-MAN: But will Alan Pollock, right, get his winner’s medal at last? Picture by Darrell Benns.