Buckie Thistle exit Highland League Cup as stoppage time Fraserburgh winner ends Victoria Park club’s silverware hopes for season
Buckie Thistle’s last hope of silverware this season was snatched away in a dramatic cup clash at Victoria Park.
Jags’ rescheduled Highland League Cup quarter-final at home to Fraserburgh finally took place on Wednesday night.
With the home side out of all other cup competitions and well out of contention in their Highland League title defence, they still harboured hopes of claiming the League Cup.
They couldn’t have got off to a worse start as Connor Wood fired home a Scott Barbour cross inside two minutes.
Buckie’s response was impressive as they quickly turned the game around to go in front.
Within a minute of Wood’s opener, Aaron Nicolson headed home his second goal in Jags’ colours to level things up.
Jack MacIver was then fouled by Ross Aitken on 17 minutes for a penalty which MacIver converted for his eighth goal of the season to edge the Victoria Park men in front.
Buckie held that lead until half time but found themselves all square once again ten minutes after half time.
Barbour, who had scored four times in the three previous meetings between the clubs this season, volleyed home another to make it 2-2.
The home challenge became all the harder when Sam Pugh, booked in the first half, received a second yellow for a foul and was dismissed on 72 minutes.
The tie was heading for penalties, but instead Barbour was to inflict even more damage on Jags in what proved to be the final chapter of the game.
In the third minute of time added on he found space wide and slipped a pass to Logan Watt, who buried his chance to win the game and earn a thrilling 3-2 win.
Fraserburgh will now host Banks o’ Dee in the semi-finals, with Deveronvale at home to Brora Rangers in the other match, both to be played on March 1.
