Buckie Thistle v Inverurie Locos at Victoria Park, Buckie.
Picture: Becky Saunderson. Image No.041759
Highland League By Craig Christie
BUCKIE Thistle’s Mosset Park massacre will be used to mount a revenge mission on Forres Mechanics this weekend. Back in October, the Jags suffered their worst result of the season when they were crushed 7-2 at Forres in what player assistant Lewis Mackinnon described as a “freak” match. Mackinnon said the pain caused by that result still runs deep, and he will look to set matters straight in Saturday’s rematch at Victoria Park. “It’s definitely not forgotten, results like that tend to haunt you,” he said. “It has haunted me that’s for sure, and we will be desperate to put that to rights this weekend.” Mechanics veteran Robbie Duncanson scored a hat trick of free kicks in that match against Buckie, while ex-Caley Thistle forward Andy MacRae also netted a treble as Forres ran riot. “It was a freak, everything they hit just hit the net,” recalls Mackinnon. “Their player scored a hat trick of free kicks, but a couple of those free kicks were contentious. They got a penalty, a free header from a corner – it was one of those days. “I think out of the seven goals, six were from set plays. The way the game was played there was never that amount of goals in it but they converted all their chances and we were awful, don’t get me wrong. “It was just a very poor day and there were a lot of things we learned from that day
and it probably stood us a good stead for the rest of the season. “We will not suffer another result like that, that’s for sure.” Mackinnon is pleased to see Buckie’s long injury list gradually being reduced, and some key players returning to the fold. Captain Kevin Fraser made his comeback in Jags’ last outing, a 2-0 home success over Deveronvale two weeks ago. Playmaker Andy MacAskill also returned from a bout of appendicitis, while Hamish Munro was back on the bench having missed most
of the last 18 months due to a serious back problem. “The performance against Deveronvale in our last game was much more like us so we seem to be on the right track again. “ Jags trip to Wick was postponed on Saturday as the entire Highland League programme was wiped out due to the weather. Mackinnon feels a week’s rest may benefit some of the recovering players. “For the likes of Kevin Fraser and Andy MacAskill, it won’t have done them any harm to have the break. Having both those guys back
in the game it was a vast improvement,” he said. “Hamish was back on the bench and he is getting closer and closer to a first team return. When we won the league I think he played every minute of every game and since then has suffered a serious back injury. “He’s looked really good in training, like he’s never been away.” Scott Adams is back training after a hamstring tweak. Keeper Daniel Bell and attacker Sam Urquhart both had knee surgery at the turn of the year and could be back in six weeks time.