Carluke Rovers made another long trip north to play this first round proper tie in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup. The opponent was a step up in class above anything the team have played against for many years in the shape of Highland League Champions, Buckie Thistle.

This was going to be a tough test for the players against a club who last season only succumbed at Celtic Park to end their interest in the same competition. On arrival the facilities were first class and the pitch the best the Rovers have played on for a long time.

The game kicked off in bright sunshine with Rovers playing with what little wind there was at their back in the first half. Both teams were keen to settle quickly but it took till the 9th minute for the first real effort on goal. It fell to Buckie when a long ball to the back post was picked up by Buckie player Lyall Keir but he dragged his shot just wide.

It was Carluke however who were to break the deadlock in the 13th minute. Good play through the middle saw the ball reach local Carluke lad Ross Steele. He did brilliantly to turn his man and fire in a left foot shot across the keeper and in at the far post to make it 0-1 to Carluke Rovers.

This gave the Rovers a real foothold in the game and something to protect moving forward. They set up accordingly and invited Buckie on to them but at the same time were looking to inflict further damage on the home team on the break.

The strategy worked well and although Buckie had plenty of the ball they were being restricted to long range shooting with many missing the target. In fact it was the 43rd minute before Buckie were to have a shot on goal but they were thwarted with a great save by Garry Black in the Rovers goal diving down to his left to smother. Halftime 0-1.

It was clear that the second half was going to be very difficult for Carluke as Buckie were no doubt a top team and would be favourite to beat any team in the West of Scotland leagues. This fact was borne out right at the start of the second half when the ball came into the Rovers box and as it bounced it was hammered against the Rovers bar and cleared to safety.

Then only a minute later another ball was crossed into the box but from close range the Buckie striker mishit his shot and it came off the post into the arms of the Rovers keeper. At this stage Carluke were riding their luck but to a man they continued to fight for every ball and close down the Buckie players at every opportunity.

Again the post came to Carluke rescue when in the 57th minute a curled shot from 18 yards looked as if it was going to creep in at the far post but hit it and was cleared to safety.

Both teams made several changes to personnel. For Carluke it was to replace tiring legs and for Buckie it was trying to find that spark that would get them back into the game as they looked to be running out of ideas. That said they were pushing Carluke further and further back and it was no real surprise when substitute Josh Peters struck to level up the scores much to the relief of the large majority of the 400 strong crowd of locals. The goal came in the 73rd minute. The ball was crossed from the left wing to the backpost where it was knocked back to the feet of Peters on the edge of the 6 yard box. He took one touch before shooting the ball into the goal from close range. The relief inside the ground and on the pitch was palpable as was the disappointment felt by the Rovers players who to a man had kept their opponents at bay for over 70 minutes playing tenaciously with no shortage of skill themselves.

With this equaliser Buckie Thistle smelt blood and went for the kill but were thwarted a couple of times by good goalkeeping by Black in the Carluke goal who was starting to struggle with injury.

It looked like the game was heading for extra time which was no more than Carluke Rovers deserved when in the 94th minute Buckie snatched the tie with a goal fit to win any game. The ball was crossed into the box but slightly behind substitute Darryl McHardy but the player produced a brilliant overhead kick from about 10 yards out which rifled into the roof of the net giving Black no chance making the score 2-1 to Buckie and scenes of wild celebration on the pitch from the Buckie players.

This turned out to be the last of the action and Buckie Thistle will go into the hat for the next round draw with this hard fought 2-1 win. However everyone associated with Carluke Rovers can be proud of their efforts. The players to a man gave their all and were gutted to lose out so late in the game but extra time may not have been their friend.

Next week it is more cup action but at home for a change for Carluke Rovers when they take on Glasgow University in the West of Scotland League Cup with a 2pm kickoff

Photography by Kevin Ramage