The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Heartbreak for Can-Cans as late leveller spoils their party
Forres Mechanics looked to have set up a Scottish Cup second round trip to Edinburgh City until David Churchill scored a last-gasp equaliser to snatch a replay.
Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley was frustrated by his side’s late lapse. He said: “They scored with five minutes to go but for 80 minutes I thought we were excellent against a side that played to their strengths.
“They were direct and had good physicality about them at set-pieces.
“I was delighted by the way we carried out our gameplan and the way we passed the ball.
“The only criticism for my players is that they were incredibly naive in the last stage of the game.
“We were 2-1 up, dominating the game and looking comfortable in possession. Then we went chasing a third goal and got caught on a stupid counter-attack which produced an equaliser with five minutes to go.
“They could even have snatched a late winner in a goalmouth scramble. If that had gone in it would have been a real kick in the teeth.
“We were able to have a really good look at them and we have absolutely no fears about going down there and winning the replay next weekend. We will hopefully have defender Graham Fraser back fit for the replay so we should be stronger next week.”
Strollers’ manager Gary Jardine has a huge incentive to progress Buckie Thistle were defeated 3-1 by a welldrilled Edusport side on the artificial surface at Galabank, home of Annan Athletic.
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart made no excuses. He said: “They started the game really well and they were probably a better team than we thought they would be.
“We had them watched a couple of times and had other reports on them but after speaking to their manager Ricky Waddell and his coaches that was apparently their best performance of the season.
“We didn’t start well and our defence was all over the place in the first 20 minutes. That surprised me as we had been defending well recently.
“I’m sure that Jay Cheyne and Sam Robertson know themselves they switched off when Edusport scored their first two goals and that cost us.
“By the time we were up for the game and started to battle away the game was probably too far away from us.
“We gave it a good go and when we pulled a goal back to make it 3-1 with about 20 minutes with a possible visit to his former club Edinburgh City in the second round.
He said: “I’ll have mixed emotions if we get through. I spent 15 years at Edinburgh City, but I won’t look that far ahead as Forres are a really good side.
“There’s no doubt we got out of jail today as for 70 out of the 90 minutes Forres were by far the better side.
“We set out to put a bit of pressure on their to go they started to panic. Sadly it was a case of too little, too late for us.”
Stewart added: “The artificial pitch was definitely an advantage for them as they play on it every week but I won’t use that as an excuse. It was a brilliant surface – I think all Highland League clubs should be playing on pitches of that quality.”
Buckie were a goal down in the 16th minute when Scott McLaughlin scored the first of three goals in a devastating eightminute spell.
Four minutes later McLaughlin made it 2-0 and the striker completed a brilliantly taken hat-trick in the 24th minute.
The Jags grabbed a late consolation when Steven Ross pulled one back midway through the second half. defence and got the opener before we sat off and allowed them back into the game.”
Robbie Laird gave the visitors the lead after 15 minutes but two stunning Allan Pollock strikes, either side of the interval, put Forres 2-1 up.
With less than five minute left Strollers levelled when Churchill broke through and finished with style.
The pair meet again on Saturday.
“Chasing a third goal, we got caught on the counter-attack”