MacRae, a long serving stalwart and former captain at Rothes who switched to Jags earlier this summer, wasn’t surprised his old mates rallied to force a replay next Saturday.
“I was there for 12 years and in my final year last season, they played better away from home for the majority of their games,” Iain said.
“I thought they merited a replay. They have a few good players and were energetic.
“We just need to up our own game. We were a wee bit down to be taken to a replay but the main thing is we’re still in the hat.”
Jags boss Gary Hake felt his team was a pale shadow of the side which beat Brora in the league last Saturday.
But in contrast, Rothes manager Graham McBeath was thrilled to see his players bounce back from a 7-0 home drubbing against Formartine to shut Buckie out.
The Speysiders could even have won a scrappy tie, with Sean McIntosh hitting the post with a simple chance in the first minute.
McIntosh was later sent off for aiming a kick at a Buckie player off the ball, and will miss next week’s rematch.
But apart from a couple of good saves by Jamie Shewan and David MacRae, Rothes keeper Greg Sim was not kept too busy by shot shy Jags.
McBeath admitted: “I thought Buckie were there for the taking. But we’ve still got to improve if we’re to hav a chance of winning the replay. The job is only half done.
“The most pleasing thing for me is we showed a lot of character after getting a bit of a doing last week.”
Both teams will do it all again next week at MacKessack Park, and will know who the winners face in the next round as the draw is made in Glasgow on Monday.
Buckie: Main, Shewan, Duncan, D.MacRae, I.MacRae, D.Wood, Napier, Davidson, Charlesworth (Sutherland 46), Robertson (Scott 59), Carrol (S.Wood 83). Subs: Shand, Strong.
Rothes: Sim, Anderson (Shearer 67), S.Dunn, Fuller, Shortreed, M.Dunn, Blackhall (Forbes 72), Robison, McIntosh, McKinstry, Massie. Subs: Simpson, Abel, Fyfe.
For reaction to the draw, pictures and interviews from the Victoria Park clash and build-up to next week’s replay, see Friday’s Northern Scot.
Elsewhere in the William Hill Scottish Cup, Lossiemouth went out 2-1 at Clach. Scott Graham and Blair Lawrie had the home side ahead before Ross Archibald pulled one back late on for the Coasters.
Huntly came from 2-0 down at home to Wigtown and Bladnoch to force a replay thanks to two second half goals from Barry Somers.
Other scores: Turriff Utd 6, Burntisland Shipyard 1; Spartans 0, Wick 2; Preston Athletic 0, Nairn County 2; Hermes 1, Deveronvale 4; Fraserburgh 4, Coldstream 0; Formartine 3, Brora Rangers 2; Whitehill 2, Inverurie Locos 4.
