DON'T WRITE US OFF YET, SAYS MANAGER CARROL

Highland League champions Buckie Thistle are running out of excuses and games if they are to retain their title.

Only a win will do against Steve Paterson's Formartine United side at Victoria Park tonight.

Jags manager Gregg Carrol knows anything less than a victory would hand a huge advantage to leaders Keith, Deveronvale, who would top the table if they won their two games in hand, high flying Turriff United and Inverurie Locos.

A defiant Carrol said: "We have nine games to go and we know what we have to do.  The players don't need to be told they haven't played well in the last few weeks.

"We are losing daft goals and that affects the confidence .

"People don't seem to realise just how important confidence is.  I can't fault the workrate of my players, it has been phenomenal, but sometimes things don't go for you and you have to accept it.  There is nothing you can do about it.  Every team needs a rub of the green.

"We got that last season when we went on to win the league.  Things aren't happening for us just now, that's the way it is but you certainly don't go from being a good side to a bad side virtually overnight.

"Every single one of my players are fantastic footballers, we're going through a spell, like every club does and we know what we have to do.

"Anyone who writes us off does so at their peril - we aren't going to give up our title lightly."

Buckie will be without midfielder Graeme Stewart with a hamstring injury, Zander Sutherland and Chris Angus with knee injuries, and the suspended Donnie Munro.

Carrol hopes midfielder Davie MacRae will have recovered from a stomach bug.

Formartine include Paterson's nephew, 24 year old former Aberdeen and Peterhead midfielder Kyle Macaulay, along with Mark Smith who could get an hour having recovered from a groin strain.  Defender Stuart Cumming is suspended.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal.