(17/09/2022 – SCOTTISH CUP FIRST ROUND – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)

LOSSIEMOUTH exited the Scottish Cup at the first opportunity after a narrow loss to an off-colour BUCKIE THISTLE. Making their second appearance at Grant Park of the season, things looked like going the way of the first as early goals from Marcus Goodall gave Buckie a healthy lead, but a Ross Archibald header hauled Lossie back into the game and the Coasters kept battling until the final whistle. 

Lossie were denied the services of Ryan Stuart and Lewis Mcandrew, while Ross Elliott was back in the starting lineup after going off injured in the game against Nairn County. With the crowd in place well ahead of schedule, the game was preceded by a minutes silence following the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II, which was impeccably carried out by all in attendance. 

The first meeting between the two was marred by early goals as the Jags hit the ground running at the sound of the first whistle, and when an Andrew MacAskill pass allowed Marcus Goodall the chance drill home after six minutes – and then again after seventeen minutes – there was an air of familiarity about proceedings. The only difference from the August loss thus far was Buckie turning out in a bright yellow change kit, but the banana and blue outfit failed to inspire the kind of shift that had drawn plaudits from fans of both sides earlier in the season, and following the second goal Buckie seemed to run out of ideas, leading to visiting boss Graeme Stewart cutting a few frustrated shapes on the touchline. 

Ross Morrison had Lossie’s first chance, sending a shot over the bar from distance, and Morrison would continue to make efforts in midfield to break up the game and win the ball back for Lossie, eventually picking up a booking for tangling with Andrew MacAskill. Chances for either side were rare, with Sam Pugh testing Logan Ross as Buckie pressed for a killer third, while at the other end a Lossie corner routine ended with Ryan O’Halloran landing the ball on the roof of the net. Ryan Farquhar and Dean Stewart both tried their luck with set-pieces to no avail. The half ended with Lossie subbing on Fraser Forbes for Ross Elliott just before the teams went back up the tunnel. 

HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 0-2 BUCKIE THISTLE

The teams trotted out for the second half as the clouds gathered, the wind continuing to pick up and drizzle making a stop-start appearance. On the field, Lossie came out still in combative mood and Forbes made his first contribution, setting up Lossie’s first steps back into the game. Forbes battled with Hamish Munro in midfield, heaving the Buckie man to one side and onto the deck before collecting the loose ball, getting the better of Lewis Mackinnon, cutting into the box and drilling a low show shot on target. Demus got down to block, but the rebound spun towards the back post and the waiting Ross Archibald, who sent a diving header back across goal and beyond the arm of the Buckie goalkeeper.

The goal failed to ignite some heat in Buckie and the inclement weather seemed to suit Lossie more, and Buckie range the changes to try and get things going. The introduction of Kyle Macleod and Scott Adams – the latter having come off the bench to score twice in August – should have noised things up, as should have the arrival of Joe McCabe for Munro, but the game was bogged down almost entirely in midfield. Scott Thomson came on for the tireless Ross Archibald as Lossie freshened things up. Buckie had their chances from set pieces, with Sam Pugh sending a dead ball up and over the bar and out of the ground, while Max Barry showed a bit more craft, sending Logan Ross scrambling across his goalline to watch the ball drop just off target.

The closing moments saw Lossie come agonisingly close to the goal that would have sent the game to extra time. A long ball into the box saw Dean Stewart get right under the nose of Demus and the big goalkeeper fumbled the ball back into play, forcing a goalmouth scramble which ended with Thomson hitting the corner of post and bar. As the ball bounced back into play Buckie were caught watching and could only look on as Baylee Campbell steadied himself for a volley, but the youngster sent the ball just over the bar. 

The final whistle was greeted with sighs of relief from the travelling fans who can look forward to the second round draw tomorrow, while Lossie return to league duty on Saturday when Huntly come to Grant Park. 

FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 1-2 BUCKIE THISTLE

TEAMS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Ryan Farquhar, James Leslie, Dean Stewart, Ryan O’Halloran, Liam Archibald, Niall Kennedy, Ross Morrison, Ross Archibald (Scott Thomson (72)), Ross Elliott (Fraser Forbes (42)), Baylee Campbell; UNUSED SUBS – Jack Macarthur, Aiden Fletcher, Liam Petrie, Kyle Morrison

BUCKIE THISTLE – Balint Demus; Hamish Munro (Diamond Joe McCabe (71)), Lewis Mackinnon, Jack Murray, Mark McLauchlan, Max Barry, Sam Pugh, Marcus Goodall (Tom Maclennan (53)), Andrew MacAskill, Sam Urquhart (Kyle Macleod (62)), Josh Peters (Scott Adams (62)); UNUSED SUBS – Lee Herbert, Cohen Ramsey, Ryan Fyffe

GOALS:

LOSSIEMOUTH – Ross Archibald (54)

BUCKIE THISTLE – Marcus Goodall (6, 17)

OFFICIALS:

Ross Clark, John Milne, Bailey Watt