July 15th 2024
SAM Urquhart spent the 2014 Highland League (Morganti) Cup final partying as his friends at former club Clachnacuddin scooped the trophy with a penalty shootout success over Buckie Thistle, writes Graeme Macleod. This time around, the forward wants to be the one receiving the adulation as he prepares to line up for Nairn County against Brora Rangers tomorrow. He said: "I was supporting Clach that day a few years ago and they won, so hopefully I will be celebrating again after the game tomorrow. But this time, I will still be on the park at the end and I won't have to run on from the side to celebrate!" Urquhart scored in the North of Scotland Cup final earlier in the season but it was a disappointing day for everyone from Station Park as Wick Academy ran out comfortable 6-2 winners. He added: "We will definitely be dying to make amends for our last cup final result and hopefully we can do something. I believe we can but we will see what happens tomorrow. We showed that Brora are beatable when we went up there in January and their recent results have shown that as well, so we have to take a bit of confidence from that." "But, at the same time, it looks like it is Cove's league so they will be extra determined to win this cup, so I do not know if them slipping up a few times before the final is a good thing or a bad thing. We won't know until after the game starts." "I had never played in any senior finals before this season, so it has been good to get to two cup finals in the same season, although the result in the last one did not go our way at all. It was still a good experience but you want to win because that is the main reason for reaching finals." Urquhart was in the Nairn team that battled to a 1-1 draw with Fraserburgh on Wednesday night, less than three days before the final showdown and at the same time as weekend opponents, Brora Rangers were winning away at Forres Mechanics. Urquhart said: "It is not ideal preparation for a final but Brora had a game the other night as well, so both teams might look a bit sluggish but at least it will be even. It is going to come down to who wants it more and hopefully that will be us – I am certainly desperate to win." "I should have scored on Wednesday night in the second half and I was not happy with the miss. I raging with myself after the game and hopefully, if I get a chance like that tomorrow, I will take it this time." "We will be expecting to create a few chances on the day but you would think they will create more than us. Hopefully I won't miss any chances this time and no one else will either and we will get the result we are all looking for." Despite signing for the club as a striker, Urquhart has excelled playing on the left hand side of midfield during the second half of this season. "I enjoy playing out there because I face goal," he stated. "Although I would still prefer to be playing up front, I am happy to just be out on the park doing a job. I will work hard wherever I am put." With only four games of the season remaining after tomorrow's match, the final could mark one of Urquhart's last appearances in a County shirt. The 24-year-old has future plans which involve a move to the other side of the world. He revealed: "I am hoping to go to Australia as soon as possible and although that has been put on hold slightly, it will definitely happen at the start of next year. I have to be over there for the start of their 2017 season at the end of January but I would like to be over there before that so I can settle in." "I like it at Nairn and I would be more than happy to stay at the club until I go to Australia and I have spoken to them about it, as well as other clubs who have contacted me. I have to do what is best for me until then and it is not like I am going to be signing for the long term, so I cannot commit to anyone at the minute." "I am lined up to go over and join Wagga City Wanderers and I would like to go over as soon as possible. I have said that to everyone who has contacted me to sign for next season and they have still said they would take me for the short term until I move over." "But my focus is on winning this game tomorrow and I have not really thought about much beyond it. I want to win every game I go into but I want it badly tomorrow and I won't be thinking about anything else until the final is finished." Graeme Macleod
