Sutherland Women aim for League Cup final glory in Golspie on Saturday when they face Buckie
SUTHERLAND Women are looking to win the Highlands and Islands League Cup for the second time in their history when they face Buckie in the final in Golspie on Saturday.
Sutherland will have the chance to win the cup in their own county when the final takes place at King George V Park tomorrow at 2.30pm.
The team, will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 2021, but face tough opposition against a Buckie team who have won both the league and cup in the previous two years.
Captain Bethany Sutherland says the team are fully prepared for the final and are confident that they can lift the trophy on Saturday.
She said: “We are doing really well in the lead up to the final.
“In the last few weeks we have played Orkney at home and away and we won both games by playing some really good football.
“The build up to the final has been going really well and positive.
“We have had some extra training sessions in the run up to the final. And I would say on a whole everyone is looking forward to it and the football that we have been playing has been contributing to that.”
It is the first time that the cup final will be played in Golspie, with the three previous finals being played at Station Park in Nairn.
Sutherland hopes with the final being played in their own county, that a strong support will back them in Golspie.
She said: “It is really positive to have such a big game being held up here.
“It is the furthest north it is being held since the league has started.
“Obviously it is not our home ground as we play in Helmsdale, but it is quite close to our home ground.
“I think we will get a lot of support from the locals and hopefully be able to do them proud.”
Sutherland was captain when Sutherland Women last won the trophy in 2021 when they beat Clachnacuddin 3-2 in the final.
Sutherland Women also reached the final in 2022 but lost on penalties to Buckie.
Sutherland is predicting a tough clash with Buckie but is desperate to realise that cup winning feeling again.
“I was the captain in 2021, I have had my hands on the trophy and it is definitely something I would like to do again.
In our last final we lost to Buckie, so we definitely want to go out and get revenge and ensure the trophy is coming home with us this time.
“That is a driver for us, this season we won 1-0 at Buckie, and drew at home in the league and got beat by them in the group stages.
“The results on paper suggest it will be a close game on Saturday. Everyone is feeling positive going into the match but we know that no final is ever easy.”
Sutherland Women have been one of the top teams in the Highlands and Islands League since they entered the division in 2021.
Sutherland says their success has been down to an excellent set up at the club and a hard work ethic from all the players.
“The desire from the girls we have players coming in week in and week out, our coaches support us at every step.
“A lot of us have been there since the beginning. There is a core group of girls and we want to do the club proud. We are all close and that helps the fact that we are all friends. Everyone within the team is all equal, we are backing one another and that is a key to the success that we have had so far. We have worked really hard for each other and a lot of us experienced success in the first final and the hurt of losing a final. That helps when you are going into a big game this week.”
