BUCKIE THISTLE 4  NAIRN COUNTY 1  (H/T 2-0)

Jags Scorers: Andy Matheson 9; Lewis MacKinnon 13; Matt Edmond 76; David Macrae 81

County Scorer: M MacDonald 79

After watching his side advance to Round 3 of the national competition, at the expense of Nairn County, Duncan Shearer was delighted with their performance, commenting "We scored four great goals there today and, despite a blustery wind, which admittedly affected both sides, tried to play entertaining football, but County gave us a tough test which, I'm glad to say, we won."

Asked why he felt the side had improved over their early season inconsistency, he added "The dressing room camaraderie is fantastic now, with everyone in the squad pulling for each other and we are eagerly anticipating the draw for the next round, on Monday afternoon, but we need to remain focussed on next week's game against Wick Academy."

"The players have the bit between the teeth and the team is becoming very difficult to beat, especially at Victoria Park, thanks to the combination of established players, along with the quality additions we have been able to make, due to the investment made by our directors, not forgetting our loyal supporters." he concluded.

A disappointed Les Fridge, Nairn's manager was philosophical in defeat " We lost the game, because Buckie showed better finishing, but I feel that we made sufficient chances to have changed the outcome, had we taken them, after all we hit the woodwork twice in the first quarter of the game."

He went on to add "Despite being 2-0 down at the interval, we played pretty well in the second half too, but were under pressure when they scored their third. Despite pulling one back, we were hit by a sucker punch when they scored again, but the point is, Buckie took their chances, while we didn't."

County looked sharp at the start and nearly rocked the Jags with only 2 minutes gone, when a wind assisted rocket from Willie Barron rebounded off Kevin Main's crossbar, but it was Shearer's men who drew first blood in 9 minutes, ANDY MATHESON drilling home a shot from 15 yards, after Graeme Stewart and Craig MacMillan combined to set up the chance.

This early counter spurred the jags on and a trio of flag kicks eventually bore fruit, when LEWIS MacKINNON added Buckie's second, in the thirteenth minute, heading powerfully home from Tony Low's third consecutive corner.

With 20 minutes gone, County almost pulled one back, when a fiercely dipping, 30 yard free kick from Duncan Jones rattled Main's woodwork with the keeper beaten.

Shortly afterwards, as the Jags attacked down the left channel, Andy Matheson was fouled by Stephen Skinner, who was booked, as a result.

Thistle were, by the half hour, about in charge, although the visitors were not fazed by the two goal deficit, nor Buckie's reputation, but there was little in the way of goal-mouth incident to report.

Five minutes from the interval, Stephen Edwards was booked, presumably for dissent, then a minute later, a curling ball into the County box was controlled by David Macrae, former darling of Station Park, who then juggled the ball before laying it off to Graeme "Spider" Stewart, who shot wide of target.

As the seconds ticked away, Shaun Kerr joined his team-mates in the book for not retreating at a free kick.

The second half got underway but the Jags seemed unable to master the wind on their tail and as a result play was rather staccato as passes went astray.

On the hour,  a driving run by Tony Low saw him hit the byeline, but his low, near post cross was belted away towards Johnston Park by a County defender.

Spider played a neat 1-2 with Marra, but his curling shot towards the far post was swept away by the breeze. Midway through the second period, then three minutes later, Tony Low was booked, for carrying the ball away after a foul had been awarded against him.

With eighteen minutes remaining, Andy Matheson received a straight red card following a challenge in centrefield, but despite being reduced to ten men, Thistle had the temerity to extend their lead, when Spider laid the ball off for MATT EDMOND who beat John Campbell, all ends up with a measured strike, VIRTUALLY ENSURING THE Jags' passage to round 3 of the tourney.

Give County their due though, for they plugged away and fully deserved their consolation after MARTIN MacDONALD bundled the ball home at the near post, with 11 minutes remaining, auguring a close finish to had been a fierce, but fairly contested cup-tie.

Any hope of a County revival was crushed in 81 minutes, when DAVID MACRAE wriggled through the Nairn defence before chipping the ball precisely, under Campbell's crossbar, after Neil Davidson sent him on his way, before racing away to the corner flag in celebration.

All in all, a good, end to end encounter, which had the fans on their toes, with the only fly in the ointment, as far as the Jags were concerned being the dismissal of Andy Matheson, who will now have to sit out the next round, which will be drawn at Hampden Park on Monday.

Buckie lineup: Main, Neill, Duncan, MacKinnon, Matheson, Small, T Low(Macdonald77), Macrae, Bruce(N Davidson75), MacMillan(Edmond56), Stewart.    Not used: Angus, Strong (gk).

Nairn lineup: Campbell, N MacDonald, M MacDonald, Skinner, Sanderson, MacKintosh, Barron, Edwards, Kerr(Graham75), Gregg Main, Jones.    Not used: Finnegan, Jarvie, Glenn Main, Ridgers (gk).

Referee: Mr N Watters.