Saturday 03 November 2007  Buckie Thistle 4   Wick Academy 0 Scot Ads Highland League

Scorers A Low 8, Bruce 47, 59, 81.

Man of the Match Steven "Marra" Bruce nets a hat-trick as Buckie consolidate their lead at the top of the Highland League.

Buckie Manager, Duncan Shearer was like a dog with two tails, after his side overcame a plucky Wick Academy outfit to consolidate their position at the top of the Scot Ads Highland League today, admitting "Every time we have played Wick since I came here, they have played really good football and I do feel for them as they just don't have a real cutting edge, as they could have nicked a couple of goals today with a bit of luck, but we punished them by taking most of our chances."

He continued "At one-nil ahead we weren't really comfortable, given Wick's aggression, but after Steven Bruce got our second goal, we went on to play some excellent football and deserved to pick up the points, to keep us in good heart for the upcoming games against Nairn, Locos in the Aberdeenshire Shield Final, Keith and then Morton, in the Scottish Cup."

The Jags, who had got the match underway were almost shocked in the fourth minute when Davie Cowie was sent clear by Richie MacAdie, but Kev Main came to Thistle's rescue by palming his shot away to safety.

The Thistle boat steadied and they drew first blood in the eighth minute, when ANDY LOW lashed home a fierce volley, after James More could only punch away Graeme Stewart's cross.

Shortly afterwards, dazzling skill by the returned Mike Macdonald saw him cast off the shackles of the Wick defence before slipping the ball to Dave macRae, but the midfielder was foiled by Wick ‘keeper, James More, who smothered the ball on his goal-line.

Thistle began to take a grip and a foul on "Marra" Bruce, beside the far corner flag allowed a cross into the crowded Wick ‘box, but Graeme "Spider" Stewart's flick was likewise held by the hard-pressed Scorries' goalie.

The visitors were showing that they were no mugs and, despite the Jags' front men putting James More under the microscope on numerous occasions, the home keeper and his cohorts managed to prevent Tony Low or Lewis MacKinnon adding to Buckie's tally before the interval.

Indeed, the visitors showed pace and aggression on the break, narrowly failing to equalise on a several occasions, the most notable being within a couple of minutes of half time, when Martin Gunn was set up by Davie Cowie and Gary Manson, only for his angled shot to skim inches wide of target.

After the interval, Thistle were quickly into the groove, winning a brace of corners and STEVEN BRUCE made it 2-0 when he forced the ball home from close range, at the second set-piece, taking the acclaim of the Jags' faithful as he celebrated his seventh goal of the campaign, thusfar.

The whole Buckie team was looking really confident as they stroked the ball around and in 52 minutes, Andy Low fed the ball to his namesake, Tony and another goal seemed certain as the winger belted his shot for the postage stamp corner, only to see More finger-tip the ball around the far post.

The same player fired in another shot a minute later, with the same result as the visitor' goalie rose to the challenge.

The relentless Jags pressure paid off in 59 minutes when Mike Macdonald, happily re-instated in the starting lineup following injury lay-off, picked out Andy Low with a chip, the latter in turn laying the ball back for "MARRA" BRUCE to leather an angled shot past More from 12 yards to consolidate his side's position.

Although the visitors remained a dangerous prospect on the break, Buckie were well on top by the mid-point of the second period, allowing Duncan Shearer to replace "Spider", Kevin Small and Tony Low in a flurry of activity off the bench, with Neil "Zico" Davidson, DAdvid Angus and Mark Hamilton replacing the aforementioned players.

Mark Hamilton, was quickly involved as he tried to open up play along with Tony Low, in a sweeping move down the Buckie right, to no avail as "Marra's header from the right wing cross slipped agonisingly by the far post.

Hamilton but was instrumental in Buckie's fourth goal in 81 minutes though, driving hard into the Wick area, where he was brought down by a rash challenge.

After treatment had been afforded to the young winger, STEVEN BRUCE placed the ball on the spot then hammered the penalty kick past the despairing James More to round off an excellent team performance from the Table toppers.

A good win in the end, but the visitors certainly won over the hearts of the home fans, with a stirring and plucky performance, although they lacked the incision needed to finish their moves.

Buckie Thistle lineup: Main, Neill, Duncan, MacKinnon, Stewart(N Davidson65), Small(Angus68), T Low, MacRae, Bruce, A Low(Hamilton71, Macdonald. Not used: Edmond, Strong(GK).

Wick Academy lineup: more, Shaun Sinclair, McKiddie, Angus Sinclair, Stuart Sinclair(Sutherland80), Shearer, Gunn, Farquhar(Coghill73), Manson, MacAdie, Cowie(Seaton59).

Referee: Mr C Sim.