SUSPENSE GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL MOMENTS

The Highland League title race went all the way to the final moments of the deciding game to give supporters an enthralling end to the season.

Buckie Thistle needed only a draw to retain the title.  For Deveronvale, only a win would do but a brilliant last-minute Andy Low free kick earned the Jags a 2-1 win.

Buckie president Mark Duncan was delighted and said: "It was a great game and it was watched by a fantastic crowd.

"I thought it was a marvellous advert for the Highland League.  It was a carnival atmosphere.

"Deveronvale supporters can be rightly proud of their young team, I'm sure their time will come soon."

He added: "Our players hit form with 10 games to go and they thoroughly deserved to retain the title.  I don't think David Beckham could have made a better job of the free kick from which Andy Low scored our last-gasp winning goal.  It was absolutely fantastic.

"We were 1-0 down at half time, which was a wee bit worrying.  But with a manager like Gregg Carrol I needn't have worried.  He turned things around at half-time and his fourth title must make him one of the best managers there's ever been in the Highland League."

Deveronvale chairman Walter Robertson was far from downhearted.

He sid: "It could have gone either way, perhaps Buckie's experience helped them carry the day.

"It was a great spectacle and, although I'm disappointed with the result, we're way ahead in our plans and we're really looking forward to next season."

Report from Press & Journal