SUB CHARLESWORTH MAKES HIS MARK

Buckie Thistle extended their lead over Cove Rangers at the top of the Highland League table to six points thanks to some opportunism from sub Martin Charlesworth.

With only quarter of an hour left visitors Wick were looking more likely to score until the former Elgin City man took a ball from Charlie Brown, turned sharply and curled a beauty beyond the helpless Alan Bokas.

Buckie Thistle manager Gregg Carrol said: "The lead-up to the goal was good and Martin Charlesworth did what he is good at with a great turn before curling the ball into the corner of the net.  We played well for the first half hour, controlled the game and didn't give them much possession.  It is all about taking chances when they come along."

Wick co-manager Ian Munro said: "We were the better team and we played some lovely stuff.  We came here without three centre halves but Craig Shearer and Alan Farquhar were exceptional, as were all their team-mates."

Jags started strongly and had they converted a couple of Zander Sutherland crosses the game may have been over early on but Academy rallied and only two great stops by Strong and a close-range miss from Richard Macadie kept the score blank.

Academy's slick short passing game was a delight to watch but with only 15 minutes left the visitors were caught out when Bob Duncan won the ball on the left, fed Brown who in turn set up Charlesworth, and for the second time in three games Charlesworth proved to be Buckie's saviour with a fine turn and 12-yard shot which was in the back of the net before Bokas could move.

With five minutes left Buckie were reduced to 10 men when Graeme Stewart picked up a second yellow card for an innocuous tackle on Academy substiute Gary Weir.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal