Stewart thinks current Buckie team best since 2017 league champions

Boss Graeme Stewart says securing the Highland League Cup this afternoon would confirm Buckie Thistle are the strongest they have been since landing the league crown in 2017.

The Jags, fifth in the curtailed 2019-20 league season, meet Rothes at Kynoch Park in the cup showpiece this afternoon, h av i n g beaten titlewinners Brora Rangers on penalties in their semi-final.

Victory would be latest step on an upward curve for the rebuilt Victoria Park men, who saw their 2016-17 double- winning team depleted by injuries in subsequent years.

Stewart, who was in charge for the league triumph, said: “There was no doubt we had a fantastic season winning the double and then unfortunately, we got hit by eight really bad injuries.

“It was eight operations we needed that almost bankrupt the club.

“It decimated the team, but it probably showed you how much we put them through that season, because two or three happened in one game.

“It was really unfortunate timing and it’s taken us a long time to recover,” he said.

“Anyone would struggle with one or two players out injured, but the fact we had that meant we had to make some signings that may b e weren’t at the standard of the players that were out.

“Now we’re past it. Kev

Fraser and Sam Urquhart are back to their best after a long time. Daniel Bell’s back to his best and we’ve signed other quality players.

“I’d agree this is the best team I’ve had since that league-winning side and it’s a young team now, so we’re hoping it’ll be an upward curve.”

Buckie and Rothes did not manage to play one another during the league season.

However, the Buckie gaffer said: “I know all their players and I’m sure Ross Jack knows all my players.

“We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so it doesn’t make too much of a difference that we’ve not seen them in the last year.

“Ideally we would have played against them, but I’ve watched them enough and have seen how they play shape-wise.

“I was very impressed. Ross Jack came in and has made a difference.

“They’ve got a manager who demands the best in terms of fitness, shape, characters. It should be a given with teams, but he makes it happen, which I like. I like to think I do that myself.”

Stewart says he has less of a selection headache this week as victory at Dudgeon Park “showed the team was correct” after a seven-month lay-off.

Player-assistant manager Lewis MacKinnon faces a late fitness test due to a slight hamstring injury.

Graeme Stewart is hopeful Buckie are on the up.