David Healy saluted 10-man Linfield as they punched their ticket to spherical 4 of the SPFL Belief Trophy within the Scottish Highlands.
Even although they needed to play simply in need of an hour with out the influential Chris Shields, who was dismissed following an incident with Buckie Thistle’s Max Barry, the Danske Financial institution Premiership Champions bared their enamel when wanted.
They fell behind to a controversial purpose from Marcus Goodall following confusion after a dropped ball, however hit again with strikes from the spectacular Joel Cooper and substitute Niall Quinn, who's celebrating his testimonial season on the membership.
“It was a tricky sport, what we anticipated,” mentioned Healy.
“We got here up towards a squad that we didn’t know a lot about, they have been an honest sufficient facet and have a powerful residence document.
“We have been method off it within the first-half, the gamers knew we have been in need of the place we wished to be. We then needed to change our form after the sending off. I used to be happy with the second half efficiency.”
Healy was puzzled on the method by which Buckie scored.
“I’m not fairly certain what went on for his or her purpose,” he added.
“Robbie (McDaid) was fouled on the sting of the field then needed to go off. Daniel (Finlayson) was going to take the drop ball, however he too needed to go off as a result of he had blood on his knee.
“Jimmy (Callacher) didn’t actually know what was taking place and he switched off. We weren’t certain what was taking place on the time. However the gamers responded. We modified personnel and the boys dug deep and located a win to win the sport.”
Healy additionally prised the contribution of the inimitable Cooper.
“Joel, like so many, wasn’t at his finest within the first-half,” he mentioned.
“I assumed we had mixture with Robbie and Joel, regardless that we have been all the way down to 10 males for your complete second-half.
“Robbie was sturdy within the air and I feel his all-round quantity 9 play was key to why we gained the sport. He didn’t rating, however his stage of efficiency and health ranges have been good.
“Credit score to Coops for popping up with the free kick and the help for Niall.
“I advised the gamers at half-time that they wanted to do higher, and so they responded in a constructive method.
“We're nonetheless looking for the extent myself and my backroom employees know this group of gamers can get to — we're not fairly there on the minute.
“We'll preserve attempting enhance week on week.”
Healy’s braves actually ought to have been in entrance on 16 minutes.
Cooper was hauled down by Sam Pugh on proper hand facet of the field and Millar’s scrumptious free kick discovered the unmarked McDaid, however he completely fluffed his traces with a free header.
The sport erupted on 33 minutes when Shields was ordered off by referee Chris Forsythe after showing to lash out at Barry off the ball.
Buckie took the lead in dramatic circumstances on 53 minutes.
Referee Forsythe awarded a dropped ball following an harm to McDaid however, as Callacher hesitated, Goodall sprinted away earlier than looping his shot over the stranded Chris Johns.
The Blues have been stage with 16 minutes remaining.
Dynamic Cooper was hauled down by substitute Sam Urquhart simply on the sting of the field. Quinn touched the free-kick to Cooper, whose shot arrowed into the underside nook.
It bought even higher for the Blues as they have been in entrance 90 seconds later.
This time Quinn devoured up a flick on from McDaid and, after taking a contact, he buried his shot previous the goalkeeper.
BUCKIE: Herbert 7, McCabe 6, Fyffe 6, Murray 6, McLauchlan 6 (McLeod, 83 minutes, 5), MacLennan 6 (Urquhart, 65 minutes, 6), Pugh 7, Goodall 6 (Adams, 85 minutes, 5), MacAskill 7, Barry 7, Peters 7. Unused subs:Demus, Mackinnon, Munro, Ramsay.
LINFIELD:Johns 7, Finlayson 6 (Quinn, 61 minutes, 7), Clarke 7, Callacher 6 (Newberry, 61 minutes, 6), Roscoe 7, Mulgrew 6 (McClean, 61 minutes, 7), Shields 5, Fallon 7 (Palmer, 90 minutes, 5), Millar 7, Cooper 8 (Stewart, 90 minutes, 5), McDaid 6. Unused subs:Walsh, Williamson, Pepper.
REFEREE: Chris Forsythe 5.