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WATCH: Should Clachnacuddin's winning penalty at Buckie Thistle have been retaken? Jags manager Graeme Stewart says his team will bounce back


By Craig Christie

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It was perhaps the shock result of the Highland League season - title contenders Buckie Thistle losing at home to struggling Clachnacuddin.

Clachnacuddin celebrate their last minute penalty winner. ..Buckie Thistle FC (2) vs Clachnacuddin FC (3) - Highland Football League 23/24 - Victoria Park, Buckie 24/02/2024...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Clachnacuddin celebrate their last minute penalty winner. ..Buckie Thistle FC (2) vs Clachnacuddin FC (3) - Highland Football League 23/24 - Victoria Park, Buckie 24/02/2024...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

It's a game that Buckie manager Graeme Stewart said his team shouldn't have lost, and he takes part of the blame himself.

But perhaps match referee Gordon Morrison also missed something in the game, as Clach's 96th minute penalty winner should have been retaken.

Video footage shows one Clach player at least five yards inside the penalty area when Connor Bunce fired home the decisive kick in the Inverness side's 3-2 success.

The ref blew for full time immediately after the ball hit the net - he should have ordered a retake.

Watch highlights on Clachnacuddin FC Youtube channel.

Stewart offered up no excuses for his side's surprise slump.

"On the balance of play we deserved to win the game or at least not lose it but at the end of the day we’ve not played as well as we could and we allowed them back in the game," he said.

"We’ve had 90 per cent of possession and two or three chances in the first half so we should be going in at half time two or three goals up and that would be the game dead. But to give them a chance from nothing is shocking from our point of view.

"I said before the game 'don’t give them something to hold on' to because we knew if we did they would hold on to it for dear life. You try and take the game away from them and do it early.

Buckie forward Josh Peters competes against Clach goalkeeper Daniel Rae...Buckie Thistle FC (2) vs Clachnacuddin FC (3) - Highland Football League 23/24 - Victoria Park, Buckie 24/02/2024...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Buckie forward Josh Peters competes against Clach goalkeeper Daniel Rae...Buckie Thistle FC (2) vs Clachnacuddin FC (3) - Highland Football League 23/24 - Victoria Park, Buckie 24/02/2024...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

"There was mistakes all round and I am over analysing my team choices, my tactics, everything.

"In my opinion any Buckie team should be winning that game but at 1-0 up they were happy to keep the ball and make 30 passes around but we weren’t going anywhere. The problem was that we didn’t take the game by the scruff of the neck."

It was the first match played at Buckie's Victoria Park ground since November 18 last year, when they defeated Wick Academy 5-2.

With their pitch dogged by drainage troubles, Jags had to play home matches at Banff and Lossiemouth but were finally back on their own soil

"The pitch is totally fine," Stewart added. "There might be more games off but it was fine on Saturday, perfect. We can’t use that as an excuse."

Jags will return there tomorrow night for a crucial league encounter with Lossiemouth, one which they certainly won't be taking lightly after the weekend events.

Clachnacuddin's Fergus Adams and Buckie's Jack Murray prepare to tussle for the ball...Buckie Thistle FC (2) vs Clachnacuddin FC (3) - Highland Football League 23/24 - Victoria Park, Buckie 24/02/2024...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Clachnacuddin's Fergus Adams and Buckie's Jack Murray prepare to tussle for the ball...Buckie Thistle FC (2) vs Clachnacuddin FC (3) - Highland Football League 23/24 - Victoria Park, Buckie 24/02/2024...Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

"Nothing is lost, it is still in our own hands," said Stewart. "If we win every game then we win the league.

"I said that after the game. I told them they had messed up and fingers crossed it’s not a game we will look back on at the end of the season as a huge mistake.

"It has happened and now it’s within my control and the players’ control to put it right, so that’s what we will do.

"We’ve got a massive game against Lossiemouth on Wednesday and that’s going to be just as hard. Lossiemouth are on a great run, I’m told they were unlucky to lose 3-2 up at Brora and then getting a draw at Formartine.

"So they will fancy it on Wednesday, and it’s maybe not a bad wake-up call because we have to realise now that we are not good enough to just turn up and win.

"I’ve got no doubt we will come back with a vengence and put that result right, but we will do that with everyone sticking together and not getting sucked in by one result. It is quite basic to have a reaction like this after a bad result but it takes a bit of experience and maturity to realise that these things can happen, and we just need to put it right and we will do that.

"We’ve got a top, top team. This is the best team I have ever managed, with lots of big characters and great players and if they do that, which they will because I’ve told them to and they are good lads, then they will come back even stronger."

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