BANFF ROUGH STUFF AS BUCKIE ASCEND

Thistle go second after early goals but nine bookings and a sending-off tell fierce story

Buckie Thistle moved up to second place in the Highland League table by taking full points in a fiercely contested derby at Banff's Princess Royal Park.

There were nine bookings and a sending-off to keep the 1,000 frozen supporters enthralled throughout.

Buckie took full advantage of leaders Huntly losing at Fraserburgh and are now only three points behind the Christie Park club with two games in hand.

Vale and Cove are level on points with Buckie, but Thistle head the trio on goal difference.

Goals from Lewis MacKinnon and Steve Bruce gave the visitors a 2 -0 lead within half and hour.

Although a thunderous Mike McKenzie 25 yard free kick goal gave Vale a glimmer of hope, Gary McGowan's 14th minute sending-off proved crucial to the outcome as the home team paid the full price.

Buckie manager Gregg Carrol said: "Vale were the better side early on but once we scored and they had a player sent off we started to play.

"I am happy the only real chance they had came from a Mike McKenzie set-piece.  Defensively, we were strong and I was delighted with our midfield, Martin Charlesworth has just come back from injury and did really well for us and his partner in attack Stevie Bruce crowned a great performance with a magnificent goal when he ran all the way from his own half."

Deveronvale co-manager Stuart Glennie said: "We dug in well with only 10 men but we didn't create many chances.

"We gave away two sloppy goals and if we are going to defend like we did we will win nothing.

"Mike McKenzie scored with a tremendous free kick but Gary McGowan's sending-off was a stupid one.  He knows that but once it's done there's nothing you can do about it.

"It is all bubbling up at the top of the table and we need to pick up over the course of the next few weeks so we're still there or thereabouts at the end of January."

The visitors opened the scoring in the 12th minute MacKinnon meeting a Zander Sutherland near post cross on the edge of the six yard box and bulleting a header high over James Blanchard and into the roof of the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Two minutes later Deveronvale were reduced to 10 men when McGowan received a straight red card from referee Alastair Mather for an attempted butt on David Angus.

Buckie made it 2 - 0 on the half hour mark when Steve Bruce picked up the ball just inside his own half, ran 40 yards unchallenged and hammered the ball under the diving Blanchard.

Deveronvale reduced the deficit four minutes later when McKenzie almost burst thye net with a blistering 25 yard free kick - before Darren Strong in the Buckie goal could move.

Report Dave Edwards, Press and Journal