CHARLESWORTH PUTS BUCKIE ON TOP

Buckie Thistle beat champions Cove to go three points clear at the top of the Highland League table with what could turn out to be a vital win on a pudding of a pitch which only added to the excitement for the 800 freezing supporters.

Cove will feel aggrieved as although they enjoyed the lion's share of the possession at Victoria Park they couldn't turn their superiority into goals but Jags' Martin Charlesworth showed them how with a superb 77th minute 20-yard winner.

Buckie had opened the scoring in the 34th minute with an angled 10-yard drive from Zander Sutherland but six minutes after the break Robbie Henderson levelled with the help of a deflection.

Home manager Gregg Carrol said "I am delighted with the three points as I felt that Cove were the better side in the second half after a fairly even first 45 minutes.

"Darren Strong made a great one-on-one save to deny Robbie Henderson before a great finish from Martin Charlesworth earned us the points after a great through ball from Steve Bruce - a goal like that deserved to win a game of this importance."

Carrol added: "It is a big three points for us.  Three days ago the pitch was under a blanket of snow, yesterday it was under water and industrial hoovers were used to get it off. Again this morning it took a magnificent effort from a small army of fans to fork the pitch so I would like to think we have repaid all their efforts by taking all three points."

Buckie opened the scoring in the 34th minute when a deep Chris Angus cross to the far post found the unmarked Sutherland who controlled the ball before drilling it from an angle under the diving Stuart McKenzie from 10 yards.

Two minutes later Angus was the home side's savour when he headed a net-bound Henderson effort off the line with Strong in the home goal beaten.

Six minutes after the restart Cove grabbed the equaliser, Henderson stabbing the ball wide of Strong from six yards with the help of a deflection off a home defender.

In the 77th minute Jags stunned the champions by scoring a tremendous winner against the run of play.

Bruce threaded a 40-yard pass into the path of Charlesworth who ran on and smashed a 20-yard grounder wide of the diving McKenzie.

Cove co-manager Jerry O'Driscoll said: "We are disappointed as we were the better team especially in the second period after an even first half.

"We had the better of the chances although there was nothing clear-cut.  I thought we could get back into the game if we picked up more of the second balls after the interval.

"We did that and once we equalised I thought that we would go on and win the game but it was not to be.

"I thought that we were on top then we got the goal we deserved but then we seemed to take our foot off the gas a little bit, and although I thought we were still the better side they hit us with a real sucker-punch when Martin Charlesworth scored the winner."

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal