Fraserburgh Face Brechin City in GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup Semi-Final
Key Highlights :
The Hedgemen of Fraserburgh will be looking to take one step closer to the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup when they face Brechin City at Glebe Park in the semi-final of the competition this afternoon. The Broch have been in the last four of the competition before, but they will be looking to go one step further this time around and book a place in the final at Harlaw Park, Inverurie, on October 14.
Club captain Willie West was part of the team that reached the semi-final last season, and Grant Campbell has won the competition with Cove Rangers, but for the rest of the squad, it is a trophy that’s eluded them. Defender Kieran Simpson is determined to avoid a repeat of the 4-0 defeat that Fraserburgh suffered at Glebe Park last season, and is keen for the team to raise their standards. He said: “We know what to expect because last season we got a fair battering down there. This time collectively and individually we’ve got to raise our standards because we all know it wasn’t good enough the last time we went to Glebe Park.”
Brechin City are aiming to reach their first Highland League Cup final, and defender Kevin McHattie admits that the league is their main focus, but insists their standards won’t drop due to the strength in depth within Andy Kirk’s squad. He said: “The league is our main priority, but we still want to do well in the cups. Sometimes the gaffer might try things or play boys that haven’t had as many minutes and it’s a chance to do that as well. We’ve got players who can come on in games or come in to start where the quality is such that the standards won’t drop at all.”
Elsewhere, there are five Highland League games on Saturday. Buckie Thistle welcome back Sam Pugh, Josh Peters and Shaun Wood for Nairn County’s visit to Victoria Park, but Andrew MacAskill and Kevin Fraser are unavailable. The Wee County have doubts over Aaron Nicolson, Ciaran Young and Kenny McKenzie. Daniel Park, Johnny Crawford and Aidan Combe are absent for Formartine United’s North Lodge Park encounter with Turriff United, who are missing Neil Gauld, Kyle Gordon, James Chalmers, Rory Brown and Max Foster. Huntly look to continue their fine form when they welcome Clachnacuddin to Christie Park. Calum Ferguson is out for the Lilywhites. Jamie Watt remains in interim charge of Inverurie Locos, who face Rothes at Harlaw Park. Paul Coutts and Sam Burnett are missing for the Railwaymen, but Nathan Meres returns. The Speysiders could welcome back Kyle Whyte and Matthew McConnachie, but Allen Mackenzie is out. Strathspey Thistle and Wick Academy both win to end five-game losing streaks at Seafield Park, with the Scorries set to be unchanged from last weekend, while Strathspey will be missing James McShane and Steve Martin.
As Fraserburgh and Brechin City prepare to go head-to-head in the semi-final of the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup, both teams will be hoping to put in a performance that will see them reach the final and have the chance to lift the trophy on October 14. With a number of teams around the league also in action, it looks set to be an exciting weekend of Highland League football.
