Buckie Thistle 2 Forres Mechanics 0: Battling Cans go down to defeat at title-chasing Jags
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FORRES Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald pointed to a “dreadful” decision from the officials as the Can-Cans went down to a 2-0 defeat at Buckie Thistle on Saturday.
Buckie were 1-0 up through Jack Murray’s 26th minute goal when, with eight minutes until half-time, Ben Barron got away from Lewis MacKinnon – only for the experienced centre-half to pull him down.
Forres wanted a red card to be shown to the Buckie defender, but referee Billy Baxter opted for a yellow – judging that MacKinnon’s fellow centre-half Murray was covering.
Buckie ultimately saw off a spirited Forres in the second half, with Max Barry’s well-taken strike on 53 minutes making it 2-0.
“We were really good and the better team in the first half, but unfortunately switched off for a set piece goal, which was really frustrating,” MacDonald said.
“Buckie hadn’t done anything and we were on top. We’d had two or three good chances and it was a simple ball into the box that we switched off from.
“It’s then a dreadful decision from the officials when Ben got away. For me, it’s a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
"The referee told me that he thought number six (Jack Murray) was getting back in but he must be an Olympic sprinter if he was getting back.
“In fairness, Buckie were the better team in the second half and deserved to win overall.”
There was a blow before the game as Ruari Fraser's ankle ligament injury at training on Wednesday meant he missed out, with twins Lee and Graham Fraser starting together in the centre of defence.
But the Can-Cans were the better of the two sides for the opening 20 minutes going close through Ethan Cairns' snapshot on 12 minutes.
Sam Pugh denied Cairns with a last-ditch tackle just minutes later, before Dale Wood's well-struck volley was saved by Balint Demus in Buckie's goal.
But Buckie took the lead on 26 minutes when Graham Fraser misjudged a long free-kick into the box allowing Jack Murray to steal in and diving header home.
After continuing with 11 men after Lewis MacKinnon's tug on Barron, Buckie came out firing in the second half and doubled their lead through a fine Max Barry finish.
The Jags should have sealed the game just after the hour when Dale Wood's weak pass was intercepted by Josh Peters who played in Andy MacAskill – but Stuart Knight denied him well.
MacDonald added: “We are acquitting ourselves well and now it’s about trying to get something from a game.
“It’s all very well coming away with plaudits and saying that you have done well but we just need that wee break to try to get something out of these games.
“We aren’t far off, it’s fine margins and it’s just a bit of naivety here and there. That’s the frustrating thing for me.
"But I’m really pleased with the boys and the effort we are putting in.”
Forres host champions Fraserburgh at Mosset Park on Saturday.
