Buckie Thistle 1 Ross County 1: Staggies struggle in draw with Buckie Thistle but claim bonus point after shootout win
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ROSS County opened their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Buckie Thistle but claimed a bonus point after winning the penalty shootout.
The Staggies fell behind against their Highland League hosts after Sam Urquhart opened the scoring.
However, Dominic Samuel responded for the visitors before they claimed the bonus point in a 5-3 shootout win.
Staggies manager Malky Mackay praised Buckie Thistle but urged patience as he seeks to find more cohesion in a squad that has welcomed eight new arrivals so far this summer.
Mackay said: "We knew that Buckie were well organised and well drilled so we knew exactly what was coming.
"The pitch was really sticky today as it was for both teams but we have to take our chances.
"If you don't take three or four real clear cut chances then it's going to be a game like that where one or two mistakes leads to a goal.
"It gives Buckie something to hold onto but they acquitted themselves really well.
"We're still a new group finding each other so what I told them at full time was just make sure to go out there and win the penalties to secure the bonus point.
"They did that but great credit to Buckie today, everybody from the directors and the staff, they're a great credit to this club.
"We had to just stay calm and not get too excited so when Buckie scored we had to just keep playing in a way that was creating the chances and just being able to take one when it mattered.
"I thought Jordy Hiwula's runs were great. He linked up really well with Owura and I thought Josh Sims did really well when he came on.
"Yan Dhanda in the first half, it probably wasn't a day that was quite suited to him in terms of the pitch so it's a brand new group of people getting to know each other and at the same time it was a competitive game so we need to try and make sure we get through this group."
The Staggies started the match well and should have gone ahead straight from kick off when Ross Callachan was teed up by County new boy Owura Edwards. However, Callachan was denied by the impressive Balint Demus in the Buckie goal.
The Jags had Demus to thank again moments later when he produced yet another fine save to deny Jordan Whyte at his near post.
Staggies manager Malky Mackay sent on Josh Sims and Dominic Samuel after the interval in an effort to force an opener against the stubborn hosts.
The decision almost bore fruit when Sims forced Demus into another save after being found by an Edwards cutback.
Despite the visitors' dominance, the hosts took the lead when Sam Urquhart capitalised on a defensive mix-up in County's backline before forcing the ball past a helpless Ross Munro.
The Staggies should have hit back moments later when Jordy Hiwula Mayifulia was sent through on goal only for the former Doncaster Rovers forward to fire wildly over with only Demus to beat.
Samuel finally made his presence felt by notching the equaliser in controversial fashion. The big striker forced his way into the Buckie box after strong appeals for handball were waved away by referee Chris Graham before Samuel rifled a shot past Demus to restore parity.
The Jags, undeterred, continued to attack County and were very nearly rewarded with a late winner. Some fine build up play involving Max Barry, Kevin Fraser and Marcus Goodall ended with Goodall squaring for substitute Scott Adams six yards out. However, Adams could only fire tamely into the gloves of Munro with the goal at his mercy.
Buckie held on to secure their first point of their league cup campaign but were denied the bonus point after losing the penalty shootout - Goodall missing for Buckie in a 5-3 loss.
The Jags will travel to play group leaders Dunfermline on Tuesday night after they beat East Fife 2-0.
