Graeme Stewart defended Buckie after an agonising 4-2 penalty shootout loss to Forres in the Highland League Cup.
The hosts were 4-1 up before a series of very poor refereeing decisions helped change the momentum of the game.
Stewart did not want to talk about the officials but was frustrated the chance to win another piece of silverware has gone.
“It wasn’t a complete capitulation like it might look to bystanders,” he said.
“At 4-1 up, we’ve had a chance to make it 5-1 and John McLeod has hit the post.
“After that, they went down the other end and it’s just went from there.
He added: “I wanted to win it so I’m disappointed. We just have to regroup.”
Shaun Wood and John Cameron traded goals for the two sides before Martin Groat was harshly sent off for the visitors.
Buckie scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half but Forres fought back soon after.
Hamish Munro was adjusted to have conceded a soft penalty, which was converted by Stuart Soane.
Lewis Mackinnon was then sent off to the bemusement of the home fans with Forres going on to tie the game through Lee Fraser and Cameron.
And there was more anger as Buckie keeper Daniel Bell was also sent off in the 119th minute.
Forres went on to win 4-2 on penalties, to set up a quarter-final clash with Cove.
Ross Jack hailed his Turriff side after they booked their quarter-final berth.
The Haughs outfit grabbed a 1-0 win at in-form Wick Academy thanks to Cammy Bowden’s 53rd-minute effort.
“It was a great performance by everybody,” Jack said, “I think 1-0 made it look tighter than it was.”
“If we had taken our chances, we could have been out of sight.”
Huntly set up a clash with Brora after beating Fraserburgh 2-1, with Neil McVitie grabbing the winner.
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