BUCKIE Thistle are shaping up nicely for the season despite Saturday’s narrow defeat to Caley Thistle, says assistant boss Lewis Mackinnon. Only the heroics of Inverness keeper Cammy Mackay denied Jags the win they deserved as a young ICT side won 4-3 at Victoria Park. Mackinnon, just back from a summer break, took the team in boss Graeme Stewart’s absence and was forced into a brief sub’s appearance despite his lack of fitness. “I wasn’t planning on playing but I had to come on for the last ten minutes with Sam Robertson having a hamstring injury,” he said. “I had just returned from two weeks holiday on Thursday so I wasn’t in prime condition to play a match – but I survived. “I thought we played really, really well against a young Caley Thistle side, a few of who are on the periphery of the first team. “We should have scored more goals. Their goalkeeper Cammy Mackay was man of the match. Some of the saves he pulled off were frightening, I’d say seven or eight top drawer saves. “We hit the woodwork as well and probably made some wrong decisions in the box but the good thing is we created maybe 12 to 14 clearcut chances so I’m confident the goals will come.” Mackinnon was thrilled to see Sam Urquhart score twice, an indication that his injury problems are behind him. Skipper Kevin Fraser wasn’t risked because of a bruised rib while the likes of Shaun Carrol, Hamish Munro and Craig Cowie weren’t available. The Jags’ assistant is also pleased to see keeper Daniel Bell fit again and back between the sticks. Young full-back Mark McLauchlan continues to impress while summer signing Scott Graham was one of several Jags denied by the brilliance of keeper Mackay.
See full story in Banffshire Advertiser 16th July 2019