Friday night football made a triumphant return to Balmoral Stadium as the top two sides in the Aberdeenshire AFA Premier Division went head-to-head for North of Scotland Cup glory. Under the Cove lights, it was Kincorth who came out on top, defeating Cowie Thistle 2-0 to lift the trophy for the sixth time in their history.

Sponsored by Esk Offshore, this year’s final promised fireworks—and it delivered. Goals from Ryan Hall and Michael Gunn sealed the win for Kincorth in a gritty contest defined by tight battles and costly mistakes. Two defensive errors proved fatal for Cowie Thistle, who were missing several key players from their match day squad.

Despite their best efforts, Cowie couldn’t repeat their 2024 triumph—an historic first in the club’s 40-year history. Kincorth, meanwhile, proved why they’re up at the top end of the division, with a performance that underlined their experience and hunger for silverware.

A deserved win and another cup in the cabinet for Kincorth, as the season’s run-in heats up.