Buckie Thistle weary of being on end of Strathspey Thistle shock
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Buckie Thistle assistant manager Lewis Mackinnon is keen to avoid any drama when his team take on Strathspey Thistle tomorrow.
For the last time the two sets of Jags met at the Grantown club’s Seafield Park home ground, it very nearly created the shock result of the season.
Back in April, Buckie were in the midst of an 18-match unbeaten league run and in hot pursuit of the title when they took on Strathspey, fully expecting a comfortable afternoon.
The home side had endured their worst Highland league campaign yet, winning just twice and losing all but six of their fixtures in all competitions.
The strugglers put up the shutters, saved an Andy MacAskill penalty and kept the match at 0-0 until stoppage time when two Sam Urquhart goals spared Buckie’s blushes.
MacKinnon is keen to avoid a repeat of the events of six months ago but believes Strathspey Thistle have strengthened their pack since last season and will again be tough opponents.
He hopes Buckie can be more clinical and not have to reply on some late intervention to win the three points.
“We will look to go there and put on a performance after our wee mini break from the league action,” he said.
“We know it will be tough. They are not losing as many goals as they did last season.
“Bearing in mind it took us last minute goals to clinch victory against them last season, we know it can be a potential banana skin.
“Even in the previous years Strathspey have been dangerous opponents and that’s even more so now.
"We will be going there knowing it will be a far tougher game than in recent seasons.”
Buckie will go into the league clash on the back of a sparkling performance in the Aberdeenshire Shield in midweek, winning 5-1 away at Inverurie Locos.
Josh Peters will face up to former club Strathspey tomorrow having netted a hat-trick in Jags’ comfortable win on Wednesday.
Peters grabbed the first two and Jack MacIver made it 3-0 at half time, flooring new Locos boss and former Buckie player Dean Donaldson.
Locos got one back through a Paul Coutts penalty but Peters got his third and Jack Muray completed the scoring at the end.
Buckie will now face Aberdeen in the semi-finals on Wednesday, November 8. The Dons were drawn as the home team but it could be switched to Buckie.
Strathspey Thistle's clash with Buckie Thistle remains on so far despite several postponements due to Storm Babet.
Brechin City v Keith, Fraserburgh v Brora Rangers and Formartine United v Wick Academy have all been called off in light of worsening conditions and weather warnings.
A Highland League spokesman said: "All other matches will be monitored closely with new dates for postponed matches advised in due course."
