CHARLESWORTH AND BROWN GOALS PUT BUCKIE JAGS BACK IN TOP SPOT

Martin Charlesworth's first-half strike and stunning 45-yard 69th minute lob from Robbie Brown saw the champions end their five game run without a win and return to the top of the table - two points ahead of Keith who play Lossiemouth at Kynoch Park tonight.

Buckie made four changes to the team which lost 1-0 at home to Turriff United last Saturday, bringing in Charlesworth, Jamie Shewan, Shawn Scott and Davie MacRae.

In the 12th minute Jags goalkeeeper Kevin Main couldn't hold a 25-yard drive from Richie Singer and when Kyle Macaulay got his head to the rebound his effort sailed over.

Buckie opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Scott beat Ally Graham for pace and when his powerful 18-yard angled drive came back off the face of the crossbar team-mate Charlesworth was on-hand to clip the ball home from six yards.

Stuart Gray in the United goal had a bit of a let-off on the half-hour mark when his clearance cannoned off the inrushing Brown but the ball flew over the top much to the goalkeeper's relief.

Buckie survived Formartine's claims for a penalty kick in the 39th minute when Stuart McKay went down just inside the box under a Mike Morrison challenge but referee Scott MacDonald waved play on.

The home men almost doubled their advantage in the second minute of the second half when Charlesworth turned on a sixpence but Gray dived to hold his 10-yard drive.

In the 65th minute Charlesworth almost notched his second goal of the night but his curling 20-yarder drifted inches wide.

Buckie made it 2-0 in the 69th minute when Scott showed perseverance in getting in a challenge just as goalkeeper Gray made his clearance.  the ball landed at the feet of Brown who steadied himself and, from just inside the Formartine half, lobbed the ball back over the stranded Gray and into the net.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal