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An injury time leveller from Josh Peters denied Locos a first victory over Buckie Thistle in almost six years. Tam Reid had earlier put the Railwaymen in front and did help them end a seven game losing streak against the Moray side.
With Paul Coutts unavailable, Jay Halliday came back into the starting line-up with Calum Dingwall dropping into the back three. Coutts’ influence looked like it might be missed in the opening stages as the hosts made a fast start. After Zack Ellis had got down to his left to save Max Barry’s deflected shot however, Locos began to grow into the game. Halliday fired over the bar and Nathan Meres couldn’t generate enough power in his shot to trouble Tom Ritchie in the Jags goal.
Jack MacIver was then off target before Ritchie gathered Myles Gaffney’s shot on the turn. Ellis again kept out Barry as a tight, and at times scrappy, first half came to a close. After the break the hosts again started on the front foot. Milosz Ochmanski did well to block MacIver’s shot and Peters blazed wide. Shortly before the hour mark, Jack Murray poked the ball goalwards following a corner but Dingwall was on hand to clear at the near post.
Just as the home side were threatening to open the scoring, Locos struck. Dingwall floated a free kick from the half way line into the box where Reid turned and hit a fine half-volley from beyond the far post and back past Ritchie. The goal opened the game up a bit as Buckie pushed for a leveller, leaving space for Locos to exploit on the break. With 20 minutes remaining, Mark Souter released Gaffney and as he raced towards the penalty area, Sam Morrison pulled him down. After a moments pause, the referee produced the inevitable red card.
This Buckie team have made a habit of scoring late goals and they didn’t let Morrison’s dismissal stop them sending bodies forward in their desperation to keep the Highland League title race in their own hands. Murray volleyed straight at Ellis, who then produced top saves to deny Lyall Keir and Liam Harvey.
At the another end, another Locos break saw Cole Anderson find Aidan Wilson in space in the penalty area but he couldn’t get the required contact on the ball. It looked like that missed opportunity wouldn’t prove costly as the game entered stoppage time, but Peters got on the end of a Barry cross to nod home. There was still time for another Locos chance but Ritchie saved well as Wilson again found himself in a good position.
On the final whistle, both teams were frustrated. In a tense title race, the hosts will feel this is two points dropped at home, although the late equaliser may yet prove to be crucial. Locos were within touching distance of a big win but couldn’t quite cling on. Overall, a share of the spoils is probably fair and is further evidence of Locos clear improvement as they took something from the Jags for the first time since a goalless draw at Victoria Park in February 2020.
These two teams meet again next month at Kynoch Park in the final of the Aberdeenshire Cup. In the meantime, Locos will be looking to finish the league season strongly, starting with the visit of Keith to Harlaw Park next Saturday.
