Thistle took the points off a very stubborn County side at wind and rain swept Station Park, to remain three points clear of the pack in the title race.

We have now recorded 8 wins from 10 in the campaign thusfar for a total of 25 points and on this schedule should amass in the region of 70 points by the season's end, more than enough to win the title, which has averaged around 64 points in recent seasons.

As we all know though, games are never won on paper, but on the fields of play and there will be plenty peaks and troughs before 19^th April, when the season should be over.

Anyway, the match got underway, with the home side kicking down the slope and in the second minute, Duncan Jones came close with a thunderous 30 yarder, which flashed over Kev Main's crossbar.

After County's opening offensive died down, Thistle came more into the game and began attacking John Campbell's goals with gusto, winning a free kick on the left flank after Steven "Marra" Bruce was bundled off the ball as he headed for the home penalty box.

Unfortunately, the stout County rearguard blotted out hopes of a goal, to the disappointment of the busloads of Buckie fans, which had made the trip to the "Riviera of the North".

Buckie's first meaningful attempt on goal came in 14 minutes, when Rob Duncan, who is rapidly proving to be an excellent acquisition, drilled the ball across goal, but David Macrae shot wide of the mark.

A late challenge on Tony Low, by former team-mate Stephen Skinner saw him become the first entry in Mr Northcroft's book, before Brian Neill curled in the resulting free kick.

The ball was partially cleared to " Marra", who turned instinctively to shoot but his 12 yard pot at goal flashed over the crossbar.

With 25 minutes played, the strapping striker was clattered to the deck inside the County penalty box, but Mr Northcroft waved aside calls for a penalty as the majority of the onlookers howled with rage, incensed that Nairn's Martin MacDonald had been adjudged to have got the ball, rather than the man.

County were being forced back further and further as the Jags strove to open their defence up, but broke in 32 minutes, Gregg main racing into Buckie territory in pursuit of a clearance, only to be brought up by Lewis MacKinnon's telling tackle some 30 yards from goal.

Wayne Mackintosh became the second County player to be cautioned in 35 minutes, after he tripped David Macrae just outside the County 'box, but Campbell showed good handling skills to thwart the free kick taker, Brian Neill.

Five minutes before the interval, David Macrae should really have done better, heading wide, after a run and cross from the left from Marra set up a great chance to open Buckie's tally for the afternoon, then the latter shot wide from 22 yards a minute later, when Graeme " Spider" Stewart made an opening.

The home side rallied as half time approached, winning a brace of flag kicks, but the Jags' defence showed plenty of grit to keep their goal intact under pressure.

After the interval, Thistle's tails were up as they set off in search of the vital opener and a drive by Andy Matheson looked promising until a deflection took the ball behind for a corner and the resolute County defence too held firm under scrutiny, as the Jags fans will their side on.

Further adventurous play saw Thistle win another brace of corner, which culminated in a Tony Low chip bouncing off the crossbar / upright junction, with Campbell well and truly beaten, but the ball drifted behind on the stiff breeze to the relief of the home supporters in the crowd.

Buckie were determined to end the stalemate and the middle period of the second half saw Nairn rarely visible as an attacking force, such was the pressure exerted on goal by the waves of green and white.

In 65 minutes, Andy Low broke through the middle of the County defence and shot goalwards, where Campbell parried the ball straight to Tony Low, who shot in turn, but his effort was turned behind, as Lady Luck refused to smile on Buckie.

Lewis MacKinnon fell foul of the ref's yellow card in 71 minutes, when he sent Willie Barron spinning to ground as the pacy Nairn forward tried to knock the ball past him into no-man's land.

Buckie remained in command of the situation, but as County continued to slow things down at every opportunity, it became increasingly likely that a no-scoring draw would be the outcome, as the Jags had thrown everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at the stubborn County rearguard, without success.

A Tony Low shot flashed a foot or so wide of target, then Campbell palmed away a Brian Neill effort but once more Thistle couldn't convert the set-piece play.

Five minutes from time, County's Neil MacDonald, only a minute or perhaps less afield was yellow carded for a silly foul on Tony Low, then Craig MacMillan, Thistle's top scorer saw his shot beat Campbell, only to be cleared, after Neil Davidson and Marra had provided the ammunition.

With two minutes remaining, the agony was over, when Thistle eventually managed to make their corner count pay off, "Zico" Davidson curling across a corner kick which was headed away by a defender, straight to TONY LOW, who was lurking around 22 yards out and the winger killed the ball before volleying it home high into the net.

The delirium that followed was a release of the Buckie players and fans' pent up energy and frustration, for it meant that the Jags would retain their three point lead, whatever the result elsewhere that afternoon.

A great result at the finish, but a real scary time of it for all that, setting up a titanic clash in midweek in the Aberdeenshire Shield final, versus Inverurie Locos, followed by a mouthwatering  encounter with Keith FC the following Saturday, both of which pale into insignificance, with the prospect of Morton at Cappielow on Saturday 27^th.

Happy days at Victoria Park!!   Hawaaaaayyy the Jaaaags!!!!!!

Nairn lineup: Campbell, Sanderson, Skinner, M MacDonald, Edwards, MacKintosh, MacLeod, Jones(N MacDdonald85), Main, Kerr, Barron.

Jags lineup: Main, Neill, Duncan, MacKinnon, Matheson(M Macdonald69), Small, T Low, Macrae(N Davidson78), Bruce, A Low(MacMillan69), Stewart. Not used: Angus, Strong(gk).

Referee: Mr M Northcroft