Buckie Thistle manager Lewis Mackinnon turns his attention to Wednesday’s Highland League Cup quarter-final against Fraserburgh after a disappointing home league defeat to Clachnacuddin
After defeat in their first outing of 2025, Buckie Thistle will aim to keep their silverware hopes alive on Wednesday night.
Ring rusty Jags lost 2-1 at home to Clachnacuddin in their first match in a month in the league on Saturday.
It wasn’t ideal preparation for manager Lewis Mackinnon for his team’s crucial Highland League Cup quarter-final at home to Fraserburgh in midweek.
Buckie have endured a tough season in their title defence and the weekend match was another example of them losing the clinical edge which helped steer them to glory last term.
Mackinnon pointed to slack defending leading to goals for Craig Lawrie on the half hour and James Anderson early in the second half for the Inverness visitors.
Despite having a lot of the game and some good opportunities, Jags could only muster a Darryl McHardy header deep into stoppages.
“I thought we were the better team, we dominated the proceedings and created the better chances and opportunities and just didn't take them,” Mackinnon reflected.
“And gave away two goals, literally gave away two goals.
“The first goal was really, really poor defending from our back line which let a boy run in through on goal. And the second goal, comfortable possession and then Joe McCabe plays a square pass straight to their man, they've got a 3v2 we don't pick up in the box and we’re 2-0 down making it a mountain to climb.
“Prior to that, in the opening stages of the game we had a couple of clear chances from Andy (MacAskill) and Aaron (Nicolson), both through on goal.
“Joe Malin had a good save, headers over the bar, we had countless corners that we failed to convert. So it's a hard one, it wasn't a bad performance, a lot of it was really good.
“It just lacked finishing and we made two errors. We actually talked about it at training last week, they counter attack and they're good at it, they're fast and they're very good at finishing, they take their chances when they can.
“We had beaten Clach twice already this season and comfortably but I thought Saturday we played even better, we created more opportunities. It's just strange how football work sometimes.”
With Jags being well out of the league picture and out of both Aberdeenshire competitions, the League Cup is their only remaining hope for honours and their delayed cup clash against Broch is next on their calendar.
Buckie knocked Fraserburgh out of the Aberdeenshire Cup this season at Bellslea Park thanks to Lyall Keir’s last-gasp winner for a 3-2 success.
They also picked up a league point in a 1-1 draw in Buchan, but lost the opening league match 3-1 at home at the beginning of the campaign.
“It'll be tight again, it could go either way,” MacKinnon said.
“They're obviously going into it after the hype of the Rangers game and a fantastic result away at Brora at the weekend (a 3-2 win).
“I would have liked to have been going in and a win ourselves but we have to try and remain positive and take the positives from Saturday's performance which was a lot of controlling, good football at times and creating opportunities. If we can add the goals to that I'm sure we can be successful.
“It's always great battles between the team and we've come out on top quite often in recent years. We should go in confident, we know what we've got to do, we know Fraserburgh very well and it'll be a tough match.
“Whoever picks up these second balls more, whoever runs the most is generally going to win this game.
“Obviously you need to be solid at the back and take the chances when they can. It should be an exciting match.”
Josh Peters and Marcus Goodall were both involved for Jags on Saturday despite having the effects of ‘flu, so are likely to be stronger for the cup clash. Fraser Robertson will be the only absentee through injury.
The winners of Wednesday’s tie play host to Banks o’ Dee in the semi-finals, and Buckie’s next league game is against Dee in Aberdeen on Saturday.