Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart sees Jags winning pre-season continue but criticises goals lost against junior opponents
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Conceding preventable goals to junior league opponents won’t be tolerated by Buckie Thistle boss Graeme Stewart during pre-season.
Stewart couldn’t hide his displeasure after his Jags gave North Junior Superleague champions Culter two goals in Saturday’s 4-2 victory.
Even a 10-1 win over Maud a week earlier didn't escape criticism from the boss, who was disappointed by the goal Jags let in.
The manager plans to iron out any defensive difficulties over Buckie’s remaining warm-up matches to ensure his team is ready to hit the ground running when the Highland League season starts on July 29.
Scott Adams continued his good scoring form by opening the scoring for Jags in Peterculter, and Jack Murray headed in a second after 15 minutes.
Buckie, who loaned Culter their goalkeeper Euan Storrier and defender Sam Morrison for the match, used their two remaining outfield subs at half time - with several players away on holiday or carrying injury.
Culter got a goal back soon after the break before sub Lyall Keir made it 3-1. A second Culter goal was followed by an injury to Adams, leaving Jags with ten men but they still completed the scoring through Sam Pugh in the closing minutes.
“We’ve given away two shocking goals from our point of view,” Stewart said.
“One was a corner and Hamish Munro, who has played 500 games in the Highland League, wasn’t marking his man. But even before that we lost a header and they troubled us with some long balls, we weren’t commanding enough.
“ If they score two worldies then fair enough but they were so poor from our point of view so I’m not happy with that and I let the players know. The second goal was embarrassing and I won’t be allowing that to happen again.”
Stewart was encouraged by his team’s attacking play and is pleased to see 19-year-old Keir stake a claim for a first team place after spending last season on loan at previous club Dyce.
“We hope he can break into the team. He’s got all the attributes, a great touch and finish, he’s got pace and can run by people.
“We don’t see him going out on loan this season, he will be part of the first team squad and we are looking for big things. He played 45 on Saturday and I will probably start him on Wednesday and I need to see him starting more games and getting 90 minutes.
“I’ve got high hopes for him, he’s going to be a big player for us hopefully.”
Jags host Rothie Rovers tomorrow night with Joe McCabe and Marcus Goodall back from holiday but Darryl McHardy and Cohen Ramsay are still away. An away match at Dyce follows on Saturday.
