Buckie get right on top of matters

Charlesworth hat-trick as Thistle boost goal difference with nine-goal thrashing of Fort

Buckie Thistle hit nine goals to return to the top of the Highland League, with just two games now standing between them and retention of the title.

Buckie took the lead after only seven minutes when Ian Murray's pass through into the inside-left channel found the run of Martin Charlesworth and he rounded stand-in goalkeedper Robert Lewandowski before rolling the ball into the net.

Fort William responded with a goal of their own, with Lewis Corbett's chipped through ball seeing Raymond Munro nipping in ahead of Kevin Main to lob it over the stranded stopper.

However, the Jags regained their lead before 20 minutes had elapsed.  Quick thinking by David Macrae saw his free kick find Donnie Munro in the inside-right channel.  He fired a shot that was going wide until it was bundled home by Lewis Mackinnon.

Buckie then scored two goals in two minutes to put the game out of sight.  Davie Macrae's inswinging cross found Charlesworth, who took a touch and placed his second of the night into the top corner from six yards out.

The celebrations had barely concluded when Hamish Munro made his way down the wing and delivered a fine cross to the back post which was nodded home by Ian Murray.

The floodgates had opened and the Jags netted their fifth in the 31st minute.  Paul Napier cut the ball back to Davie Macrae, who fluffed his shot into the air but Donnie Munro was well placed to nod it past Robert Lewandowski from seven yards out.

It was very nearly six in the 35th minute when Charlesworth rattled the ball off the crossbar but he only had to wait four more minutes to complete his hat-trick.  Hamish Munro was the architect once more, driving down the right and beating two players on his way to the byline before cutting it back to Charlesworth and he made no mistake from six yards.

Buckie were in seventh heaven just a minute into the second half when Charlesworth raced through the middle and lobbed the ball over Robert Lewandowski.  Although it was destined for the back of the net Paul Napier nipped in to head it over the line and claim the goal.

Two minutes later Napier turned provider with a cross from the right wing that was placed into the net by Ian Murray, making it a pair of braces against the Fort for the veteran forward.

Buckie weren't finished and Murray pounced on some confusion in the Fort line up and set up Craig MacMillan, who rolled in number nine.

Report from Press & Journal