PICTURES – Sutherland heartbreak in Highlands and Islands League Cup final against Buckie
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Highlands and Islands League Cup final
Sutherland suffered heartbreak in the final of the Highlands and Islands League Cup as they lost after a penalty shoot-out to Buckie.
The game was level at 2–2 after extra time before Buckie held their nerve when they converted all of their penalties to win 3–1 in the shoot-out at Station Park in Nairn.
Sutherland came from behind twice to level the match in normal time and had a number of opportunities to take the lead in a final where they dominated possession.
Buckie took the lead after seven minutes when Abbie Louise Marshall unleashed a powerful volley from 15 yards after connecting with a cross from the right wing to fire into the net.
But Sutherland equalised on the stroke of half time when Trisha Macrae unleashed a sensational strike from 30 yards which went straight into the top left corner.
Buckie retook the lead in the 73rd minute when Caitlin Carnegie’s pass found Lori Lappin who charged into the box and blasted a powerful strike from close range into the net.
The lead lasted only two minutes as Sutherland equalised when Rachael Sutherland fired a spectacular drive from 30 yards which went straight into the net.
Sutherland almost won it towards the end of normal time when Franci Hutchison unleashed a spectacular long range effort which smacked off the crossbar.
Sutherland continued to pile on the pressure and goalkeeper Sophia Golebiewski had to be at her best to keep Buckie level in extra time when she produced a sensational stop to deny Katy-Jane Grant from close range.
The game went to penalties when Kayleigh Stalker, Alena Gardiner and Lori Lappin scored their penalties for Buckie.
Hutchison scored the first penalty for Sutherland blasting it into the top left corner.
But Golebiewski saved Sutherland’s second penalty and watched their third and fourth penalties miss the target as Buckie went on to celebrate lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.
