Mayhem in Moray
Red mist rolls in as Buckie let two-goal lead slip
There were stormy scenes as Buckie Thistle and East Kilbride clashed in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.
Tempers flared on and off the pitch at Victoria Park as Kilby fought back brilliantly to earn a 2-2 draw.
Now the countdown is on for Saturday’s second leg at K-Park.
Buckie Thistle ....... 2 East Kilbride ......... 2
Paul Thomson at Victoria Park
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart was sent to the stand after grappling with East Kilbride’s Fabio Capuano in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-final.
The Highland champs let a twogoal lead slip as Chris Angus’s strike and a Sam Urquhart penalty were cancelled out by a Paul Woods strike and Russell McLean’s header four minutes from time.
In a fiery match with some tasty challenges flying in, tensions boiled over late on as first Kilby kitman Martin Fellowes was sent off for over-celebrating McLean’s equaliser.
Moments later Stewart was given his marching orders for trying to grab the ball off Capuano and hauling him to the ground.
And at the final whistle, Buckie fans queued up to hurl abuse at the EK players and officials, with Kilby skipper Barry Russell being struck by a coin.
There were also accusations from the Jags that Capuano spat on Angus.
Before the mayhem ensued, the teams played out a thrilling end-to-end battle in which both sides could easily have added to their tally of two goals apiece.
It was Kilby who threatened first when they rattled the crossbar after five minutes. Sean Winter’s strike cannoned back off the woodwork and Joao Victoria had his rebound strike saved by Buckie keeper Daniel Bell.
But four minutes later Buckie took the lead when Urquhart’s cross found Angus in space and he fired the ball into the far corner from 10 yards.
Kilby keeper Matt McGinley had to be at his best in 13 minutes when he turned away Urquhart’s rasping drive from the edge of the box.
In 33 minutes Capuano gave away a penalty when Chris Angus went down on the far side of the penalty area, seemingly after a nudge in the back. Urquhart sent McGinley the wrong way from the spot to double the Jags’ advantage.
But just before the break Kilby found a lifeline when Joao Victoria beat Bell to a long ball and the ball broke to Woods to slot into an empty net.
And then super sub Russell McLean rose above everyone else to head home the equaliser from Barry Russell’s long throw six minutes from time.
The red mist rolled in after that and both sides will be thankful none of their players are missing for next week’s return leg at K-Park.
K-Park boss Martin Lauchlan said: “It was certainly eventful.
“To go 2-0 down and come back the way we did, I was absolutely delighted.
“A lot of people have said before this that the Highland team doesn’t really care if they go up or not. “It didn’t look like that to me. “The tackles that were going in were very physical. We stood up to that and took their antics on board.
“There were three or four tackles early in the game that the ref should have dealt with.
“I don’t know if that’s what they do in the Highland League but these tackles were terrible.”
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart said: “There was some silliness going on both on and off the park but I thought it was a fair result.
“I thought it was a physical game. I would loved to have played in it.
“Their right-back (Capuano), who caused trouble all game, he grabbed the ball and I’ve tried to get it back. He’s grabbed my arm and fell over and I’ve fallen over with him.
“It was laughable and I was actually looking at the ref because I couldn’t get up. The ref ’s got to do something at that point because there’s a bit of a melee.
“I just hope I don’t get into trouble because I never did anything. “The next game is a cup final now.” Tickets for Saturday’s return leg at K-Park are priced £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Kick-off is 3pm.