Four Hundred frozen supporters were treated to a six goal thriller at Victoria Park on Saturday as Buckie Thistle and Wick Academy claimed a point each in the only Highland League game to survive the winter weather. 

Academy caught the home side cold with two goals in the first five minutes but Jags rallied and two goals within a three-minute spell pulled them level by the 24th minute.

Jags looked to have scored the winner with Graeme Stewart's 53rd-minute header but a stunning finish from Wick full back Michael Steven six minutes from time, which flew high over Darren Strong with the help of a slight deflection off Stewart, tied the game. Man-of-the-match Zander Sutherland led the Scorries defence a merry dance throughout, but was desperately disappointed his side lost two valuable points to all but end the back-to-back champions' defence of their title.

Sutherland said: "We conceded two goals in the first five minutes and were really up against it but in the end, with all the effort we put into the game, I thought we deserved to take more than a point from the game.

"We got a wee bit complacent when we went 3-2 up, although I still think there was more than a bit of luck about Wick's late equalising goal.

"I think that Darren Strong would have saved it had it not been for a deflection off Graeme Stewart."

Academy centre forward Gary Weir said: "It was a great start, perhaps too good a start, as they came right back at us and they also scored a couple of goals in quick succession to draw level half way through the first half.

"It is a hard place to come so we have got to be happy to have taken four points from six against a team which has won the title two years in a row."

Wick opened the scoring in the third minute when Weir played the ball through to David Allan who clipped the ball past the advancing Strong from 12 yards with the home defence looking for an offside decision which failed to materialise.

Things got much worse for the champions two minutes later when Allan returned the favour for his attacking partner, and Weir's composed 10-yard low finish went in off the inside of the post.

The visitors felt aggrieved three minutes later when Allan appeared to be upended just inside the box by goalkeeper Strong, but referee Tom Shaw waved away the Academy's protests- not the referee's only contentious decision of the afternoon.

The escape seemed to act as a spur to the home side and only two brilliant flying saves by former Brora Rangers goalkeeper Michael Gray kept them at bay.

However, Gray could do nothing about Buckie's 21st minute opener when Sutherland's dangerous ball into the six-yard box was turned in by Charlesworth for his third goal in two games.

Three minutes later the home side drew level when Paul Napier's 25-yard drive appeared to be heading past the upright until it curled in at the far corner with Gray stranded.

Eight minutes after the break the home side took the lead when Napier's corner picked out Stewart on the penalty spot and his looping header sailed high into the roof of the net.

Charlesworth passed up a couple of chances to add to Buckie's tally, and Mark Chisholm also headed high over the back post when it looked easier to score. Those misses came back to haunt the champions six minutes from time when the Jags failed to clear their lines, the ball fell at the feet of Academy full back Steven and from 25 yards he sent a screamer high over Strong with the aid of a deflection.

Report Dave Edwards, Press & Journal