Clachnacuddin look to make Highlands and Islands Cup final
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BOBBY BECKWITH is warning Clachnacuddin Women to beware complacency as they take on Buckie in the Highlands and Islands League Cup semi-final.
The Lilywhites ladies are 90 minutes away from reaching the inaugural final and travel to face a team they beat comfortably in the league.
But manager Beckwith is convinced the hosts will be no pushovers and recalled how they posed Clach some serious first half problems last time out.
The former Elgin City assistant manager said: “They’re a pretty decent side, Buckie – some good players.
“In the league game this year, they could easily have had us 2-0 down in the first half after a tough start to the game.
“We came through comfortable 4-0 winners at their ground in the end, but this is the semi-final of the cup and they will be doubly determined to pose us problems.
“It is a warning to us, I’d say – we know we can’t just turn up and expect to win. We have to show up and put a performance in.
“Buckie are well-drilled and very physical. They’ll be right up for it, but so will we.”
Clach have countered the risk of a lack of match sharpness with some quality work on the training ground ahead of the semi-final, to be played at Rovers Park, Buckpool on Saturday at 2pm.
Beckwith feels the key for his team will be to get a grip of the ball and play their natural game
He said: “We haven’t had a game for a couple of weeks, but the girls have been training well.
“What I feel will be important is we move the ball about well, get it down and play when we can.
“But the girls have certainly shown they can play football. The weather at Buckie is not always conducive, but that’s what we’ll set out to do.”
Reaching the final – against either Inverness Caledonian Thistle development or Lewis and Harris – would be all the more special given it is the competition’s first year.
Beckwith said: “To get to the final would be wonderful.
“The girls have excelled themselves and surpassed expectations this year, so it would be another massive step for us to get there.”
Beckwith was still assessing his squad ahead of the Buckie showdown, with several players absent on holiday.
But he added: “I think we will travel with a strong squad.”
