BUCKIE MAKE IT TIGHT AT SUMMIT AS THEY WARM UP AFTER COLD START TO DUMP FORRES

Three points at Victoria Park ensured Buckie Thistle go into the festive Highland League fixtures in second place in the table, level on points with leaders Cove Rangers but a goal worse off.

The home side rallied well after losing a goal in the first minute but manager Gregg Carrol was quick to point out his pre-match preparations did not go entirely to plan.

Carrol said: "Because of the weather and the road conditions we didn't reach the ground until 2.20pm, so it was no great surprise when Forres caught us cold with the opening goal in the first minute.

"I thought we came back well despite losing midfielders Graeme Stewart with the reoccurance of a groin injury and Donnie Munro, who went over his ankle, both of them within the opening few minutes.

"Once we got going I thought we did really well.  I think referee Roddy Cobb must take a lot of praise for using commonsense in the conditions."

Can-Cans manager Gordon Winton said: "I was disappointed with the way we played after starting so well with the goal in the first minute.

"After scoring the early opener we didn't really push-on and having Gary Youngson sent off when we were going in search of an equaliser in the second half did nothing to help the cause.

"Buckie created more opportunitities, they challenged for everything and probably deserved to take the points"

Forres opened the scoring when Fraser Bremner's cross found Neil Whyte and his powerful header resulted in the ball going off the underside of the crossbar.

Jags levelled in the 16th minute when substitutes Hamish Munro and Mike MacDonald created the opening for David MacRae to hammer the ball low past Stuart Knight.

In the 38th minute the home side took the lead when Bob Duncan found Martin Charlesworth, who made a hash of his effort, but when the ball spun to Zander Sutherland he thrashed it past the helpless Knight from just inside the box.

In the 72nd minute Forres were reduced to 10 men.  Charlesworth fouled Gary Youngson and when the Forres player retaliated referee Roddy Cobb showed him a straight red card, while the former Elgin City man somewhat fortunately escaped punishment for his part in the incident.

Buckie looked to have made the points safe in the 85th minute when the smallest man on the pitch, substitute Ian Murray, nodded the ball in at the back post to make it 3 - 1.

Deep into injury time, however, the visitors pulled one back when Ross Duncan was fouled in the box by Bob Duncan and Simon Allan sent Darren Strong the wrong way from the resultant spot kick.

Report from Press & Journal