Banks o’ Dee have already shown they are a match for Highland League opposition but attacker Jamie Lennox is determined to finish off the job by beating Inverurie Locos to lift the Morrison Motors Aberdeenshire Shield tonight.
The Aberdeen juniors, under the co-management of Sandy McNaughton and Tommy Forbes, have enjoyed a fine run in the competition, defeating Buckie Thistle, Formartine United and Turriff United to set up tonight’s final at Christie Park, Huntly.
Dee have a 100% record in the North Superleague and have lost only two matches all season – a 7-2 defeat by Formartine in the Scottish Cup in October and a 5-0 loss against Sauchie in the Scottish Junior Cup this month.
Lennox won the shield three years on the trot with Keith between 2004 and 2006 but is determined to lift it with a junior club this time around.
He said: “It would be a great achievement for the club.
“We didn’t really expect to be here but looking at the teams we’ve beaten to get to the final tells its own story of how well we’ve done.
“I don’t think there’s a big gulf between our squad and a lot of Highland League teams. We have a squad of talented boys and we all work hard for each other and get on really well as a team. We have lost only two games this season which says a lot for our squad.”
Lennox has been with the Spain Park side for nearly two years, after making the move from Cove Rangers, initially on loan, before making it permanent.
The 28-year-old has no regrets about leaving the Highland League and he added: “The move to Banks o’ Dee came from me not enjoying my football. I wasn’t getting a look in at Cove.
“My plan was to take time out of the game but Banks o’ Dee took me on loan and I got that enjoyment back. That has stuck with me and I’m happy playing and competing against these teams and in these competitions.”