Cove Rangers consolidated third place in the Highland League table but the margin of victory against Buckie Thistle somewhat flattered the Allan Park side. 

The home team was leading thanks to Danny Milne's 51st-minute strike, the champions were caught chasing the game by Daniel Park's effort in the final minute and in added time Milne added another.

Cove Rangers manager Kevin Tindal said: "I think the scoreline did flatter ourselves. In the first half I don't think either side played to full potential but we did better in the second half.

"Buckie had to gamble late on when they were a goal down and we took full advantage by hitting them on the break twice in the closing stages.

"Danny Milne scored a great double, he worked really hard and gave the Buckie back four a hard time all afternoon the Daniel Park came off the bench and scored an excellent goal as well.

"Daniel is progressing well and is happy to do a job for the team wherever we ask him to play."

After a goalless first half Cove opened the scoring against the run of play in the 51st minute when Kevin Webster's cross was nodded home by Milne at the near post. The Jags piled forward in search of an equaliser but as so often happens they were caught on the break in the 90th minute, Park fastening to a Milne cross to fire past Darren Strong in the Buckie goal.

In the first minute of added time Milne notched his 16th goal of the season with a superbly struck 18-yarder.

Buckie Thistle manager Gregg Carrol is refusing to concede defeat in the title race despite his side slipping further behind leaders Forres Mechanics. Carrol said: "We're certainly not giving up hopes of retaining our title, we will battle away until the last game of the season but I will admit that we have given ourselves a mountain to climb.

"We have been there before, we're now back on the bottom rung of the ladder again and we need to start climbing back up it, starting with next Saturday's home game against Clachnacuddin. I think we played fairly well and I think Cove were the happier side when we went in the break level at 0-0.

"However, we continue to lose bad goals. The players are working extremely hard on their game so that isn't the problem, what they now have to do is concentrate a bit better."

Report, Press & Journal

Match photos (Courtesy of Chris Jannetta)