BUCKIE THISTLE 1
Urquhart (53) ROSS COUNTY 1
Samuel (61)
(Ross County won 5-3 pens)
Ross County boss Malky Mackay will look for his team to add a clinical edge as the League Cup progresses after pointing towards missed chances that he felt prevented his team from taking all three points.
He said: “We have to take our chances. Failing to do that meant that a mistake at the back, where we had a couple of slashes at the cross, allowed them to get a goal that gave them something to hold on to.
“It was important that we won the penalties to gain the two points.”
Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart felt his team should have won the game in the 90 minutes, saying: “We are delighted with the performance, it was unbelievable. A draw was the least we deserved.”
Ross County looked to make an early breakthrough when Owura Edwards set up Ross Callaghan, but Balint Demus was equal to the effort. Buckie then began to settle into the game and there was little between the teams throughout the period.
Opportunitism from Sam Urquhart early in the second half gave Buckie the lead. He pounced on a deflected Marcus Goodall cross to put a low volley bouncing into the bottom corner.
Buckie were on top and very nearly added a second with a wonderful move down the right which culiminated in Kev Fraser’s cutback being volleyed just wide by Goodall.
At the other end, Edwards sent Jordy Hiwula through on goal, but his effort clipped the bar on the way over.
Then a controversial call saw Dominic Samuel not penalised for a handball when he charged down a Buckie clearance. Hiwula took advantage to send Samuel in to slot into the net.
An intricate build-up between Goodall, Fraser and Scott Adams resulted in the latter being left with what looked like a simple finish from eight yards to win the game, but he fluffed his lines.
County were immaculate from the penalty spot in the resultant shoot-out – and that meant Ross Munro’s save from Goodall’s kick proved crucial and the Premiership side won 5-3.