WATCH: Injury and suspension forces Buckie Thistle player assistant Lewis Mackinnon to play 60 minutes with calf injury in Saturday's 4-0 SPFL Trust Trophy defeat to Championship leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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BUCKIE Thistle assistant boss Lewis Mackinnon had to play through the pain barrier against Championship leaders Caley Thistle’s full-time squad on Saturday.
The Inverness side continued a fine start to the season by beating Buckie 4-0 - see ICTV highlights below - though Mackinnon said the final score may have flattered the home team.
“I thought we made a good account of ourselves, albeit we gave away cheap goals – all four of them,” he said.
“Inside the first five minutes we had two really good chances and a great effort from Andy MacAskill so I don’t think it would have been unjust if we took an early lead. It’s a story of what might have been if we had got that first goal.
“We knew we couldn’t go toe-to-toe with a team top of the Championship on their home ground, we were happy enough to surrender the ball and let them play in front of us.”
With centre back Sam Morrison suspended, Mackinnon’s experience was called upon at centre back despite being unable to train for most of the last six weeks due to a calf injury.
“[Caley coach] Barry Wilson said they freshened their team up to give younger players a chance and we are in the same boat.
“Jack Murray, Mark McLauchlan, Max Barry are all young players and there’s myself who has barely kicked a ball all season, I’m carrying an injury but I had to go in and give it my best for 60 minutes.
“It’s just niggling away and seems to keep reoccurring. I played 70 minutes against Fraserburgh due to suspension and that was me playing 60 without any training sessions. It was hard going but I’m glad I got through a bit of the game.
Buckie were unlucky not to take the lead early on, as Kevin Fraser forced a save out of Cammy MacKay and Andy MacAskill curled a great effort off the post. Sam Urquhart also forced a fine save with a diving header as the visiting Jags threatened.
But Caley debut youngster Lewis Jamieson was left unmarked to nod his team in front midway through the first half.
Buckie keeper Kevin Main made some good saves but fumbled one under pressure from Tom Walsh, allowing Cameron Harper to lob in number two, before a late Billy McKay brace sealed the home success.
“To lose a free header at the back post from not the tallest player on the park was disappointing,” said Mackinnon. “The second goal, Kevvy will hold his hands up he should have done better, and the other two were from slack passes in the last few minutes.”
Mackinnon will likely give way to the returning Morrison for Saturday’s Highland League game of the day at Brora Rangers.
“We will have a good squad available to try and go up to Brora and do something this weekend,” he said.
“It will be a tasty match. Of course we will give Brora plenty of respect, they are a quality team and they have signed some good full-time youngsters as well that will add quality to their team.
“It will be a tough match.”
