BUCKIE THISTLE COUNT COST OF ORDERING-OFF

Our own stupidity cost us cup place, says Carrol

Buckie Thistle manager Gregg Carrol blamed his side's "own stupidity" for the Highland League champions' Scottish Cup exit at Ochilview last night.

Buckie came within two minutes of forcing a fourth-round replay with East Stirling despite playing the second half with only 10 men.

A moment of madness a minute before the break saw Jags forward Ian Murray grab team-mate Graeme Stewart by the throat and the incident led to Murray being ordered off and Stewart being shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Law.

The unsavoury exchange altered the character of the tie and Carrol said: "We lost the game because of our own stupidity with the sending-off.  You can't allow for something like that but it is annoying as they are two very experienced players.

"They started to argue with each other, they carried it on and, eventually one grabbed the other.  Sometimes people should be big enough to stand up and accept criticism.  It was totally unprofessional in my opinion.

"It is even more annoying as they have both let down Buckie Thistle.  We will need to sort that out and we will."

Buckie defended superbly under siege from Shire but, with a replay looming, goalkeeper Kevin Main, whose handling had been immaculate throughout, uncharacteristically spilled a low cross and Kevin Cawley was onhand to slam the ball into the roof of the net two minutes from time.

Carrol added: "Kevin Main only had to make two real saves during the game and that says a lot about our backline who were very strong.

"I think Kevin came on to the ball too quickly when he dived at the goal.  He was in a hurray to get to the ball and he was unlucky."

Main took his late handling error on the chin, saying "I just stretched too far for the ball, my hands were good all night but the ball skipped up off the artificial surface and came out of my grasp.  It's just one of those things.

"Having to play the whole second half with only 10 men killed us.  We contributed to our own downfall as it is hard enough facing a Scottish League team away from home with 11 men.

"The lads should know better.  They are both experienced players who have let themselves and their team-mates down."

Despite the massive disappointment of watching their heroes bow out of the Scottish Cup the 300-strong band of Buckie supporters did themselves proud by singing their hearts out all night.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal