Clachnacuddin won their first trophy for 10 years after a thrilling Breedon Aggregates Highland League Cup final at Kynoch Park, Keith, which went all the way to penalties after 120 minutes.
The Lilywhites twice threw away a two-goal advantage as Buckie rallied to take the game into extra time before veteran John Campbell saved substitute Iain MacRae’s spot kick to spark celebrations amid the Clach faithful.
Clach forward Paul Brindle, the man of the match, took his season’s tally to 24 and he was also brought down for Gordon Morrison’s penalty kick.
Brindle, 21, said: “I thought we had thrown it all away at the end there but we’re just delighted we managed to get the result when it went to penalties.
“This victory was for the supporters and Iain Polworth, our manager. We are privileged to play for Clach and once again supporters were right behind us.
“I set myself a target of 20 at the start of the season as this is only my second term in the Highland League, half way through I was actually aiming for 30, but to get 24, and score two of them in a major cup final isn’t a bad return, although we still have Fort William to play on Friday night.”
There was a great atmosphere at Kynoch Park at kick-off with green and white bedecked Buckie supporters slightly outnumbering the Lilywhites’ faithful in a crowd of more than 1,100.
Both teams had chances in a goalless first 45 minutes but defences were on top and both goalkeepers, Clach’s John Campbell and Jags’ Kevin Main, were seldom troubled. Two minutes after the break Clachnacuddin broke the deadlock, a long through ball from Martin Laing picked out Paul Brindle, he outpaced Darren Wood and sent an unstoppable 15-yard drive high past Main.
In the 61st minute Clach made it 2-0, Brindle was brought down by Shaun Wood a yard inside the box and Morrison hammered the ball straight down the middle. Within two minutes Buckie gave themselves a chance when Liam Baxter gathered the ball 15 yards out, turned and fired low past the diving Campbell.
In the 71st minute Clach made it 3-1, Andrew Skinner made a great run down the right, his mishit drive squirmed across goal straight to team-mate Brindle who beat Main from 10 yards.
Still the game swung from end to end and eight minutes from time Buckie pulled one back when Andy Low stooped low to nod home a Conway corner. Three minutes later Jags were level, substitute Stephen Gauld was tripped in the box by Skinner and Aaron Conway stepped up to fire the spot kick high and wide of Campbell. After a cagey 30 minutes extra-time the game went to a penalty shootout.
Buckie went into an early two-goal advantage, but Clach rallied and after five spot kicks each it was again tied at 3-3. In sudden-death Scott Graham made it 4-3 to Clach and when Iain MacRae’s spot kick was brilliantly parried by Campbell the jubilant Lilywhites supporters invaded the pitch to surround their heroes.
Disappointed Buckie forward Low said: “A 3-3 score-line was probably a fair reflection on the game going into extra-time, but I thought we were the better side in the second half of normal time when we came back from 2-0 and 3-1 down. I have had many highs with Buckie Thistle but to enjoy that you need to have experienced a few disappointments, this is one of them, but fair play to Clach, and their supporters, they were brilliant, as were ours, together they created a brilliant atmosphere.”