Let's have more big days at Rothes

SCOTTISH Cup fever, a big crowd inside MacKessack Park – it's the kind of occasion Rothes boss Steven MacDonald wants to see happen more often.

Sadly the Speysiders' cup hopes ended last weekend, as despite a battling performance against League 2 Annan Athletic they went down to a solitary free kick strike.

MacDonald praised his team's effort against higher league opposition, and reflected on how far Rothes have come since nearly going out of business three years ago.

He hopes there are more big games to come at Rothes if the club strives to keep building and making good Highland League progress.

"For us, the Scottish Cup is over now but it does whet the appetite when you get the taste of these bigger games," he said.

"It was the biggest crowd I've seen at Rothes since I've been there and the atmosphere was really good. Once you get that taste you want more and I think for everyone now it's deciding what way we go in the future. There is so much potential here to kick on again.

"From the position Rothes were in less than two years ago, to see the hard work from everyone off the field that has gone into getting us to days like Saturday, it shows what can be done.

"I think it's fantastic to see at a football club. All the committee here deserve credit for getting us here but now it's a case of saying 'do we want more of that' and 'how do we get to the next stage'.

"Things are definitely improving and you want to keep going in the right direction."

A curling David Wilson free kick just before half time was enough to give a relieved Annan victory.

Rothes had chances before and after the goal, not least when Steven Anderson was put clean through on goal only for Annan keeper Alex Mitchell to pull off a fine save.

"We played well. I couldn't really have asked for any more on the day. I told them they had to turn up and put on a performance and I think they did that really.

"There is a lesson to be learned. Annan are a very physical, dirty side but how many free kicks did they give away on the edge of their own 18-yard line? None. They are clever like that and it's a lesson that if you are going to give free kicks away in that area against better players they are going to punish you."

Rothes return to league business at Buckie this weekend, with manager MacDonald wary of Jags' surprise 7-2 defeat at Forres on Saturday.

"It was a bit of a freak result on the day when you see three goals from set pieces outside the box. I'm sure they are looking at it thinking it's very unusual.

"But they had been going well before that and had some good results so we have got to beware of the wounded animal this weekend.

"They will be desperate to put that performance behind them."