CLACH PRAISE FOR BUCKIE MATCHWINNER MURRAY

Impressive debut from Brown after Munro goes off with back injury.

Two goals each for Ian Murray and Craig MacMillan helped to keep Buckie two points clear of Cove Rangers at the top of the Highland League table.

There was more good news for Buckie manager Gregg Carrol as new signing Robbie Brown made an impressive debut after coming on and playing for almost an hour after Donnie Munro had to go off with a back injury.

Carrol said: "It was important to get the first goal.  Clach were looking for a foul by our Paul Napier but I think their player had, in fact, kicked the ground.  Nevertheless, Paul finished it off in some style.

"We had to send Robbie Brown on earlier than expected for his debut and he came through it well.  We are top of the league with 12 games to go but there will be a lot of twists and turns before the end of the season."

Clach manager Ian Polworth said: "The 5-1 scoreline is a bit harsh on us but indivdual errors cost us.  Ian Murray was the difference between the sides.  He shone through by scoring twice himself and setting up both of Craig MacMillan's goals."

Buckie took the lead in the eighth minute when Graeme Stewart fed Napier and, with Clach claiming for a foul by the former Elgin City winger, he kept his composure to beat David Harrison with a powerful angled 12-yard drive.

Buckie doubled their advantage in the 36th minute when Murray took a David MacRae feed, ran on and hammered the ball high past Harrison from 15 yards.

Murray notched his own second and Buckie's third goal on the hour, running on to a Napier pass before rounding the keeper and scoring from a tight angle.

It was 4-0 in the 75th minute.  Murray passed to Brown, whose shot was blocked and when the rebound fell to MacMillan he made no mistake from six yards.

Clach pulled one back with a magnificent 30-yard strike from the league's leading scorer Gordon Morrison six minutes from time, but Buckie restored their four-goal advantage in the 88th minute, MacMillan supplying the downward header finish from Murray's deep cross.

Deep into injury time Colin Williamson was sent off for a tackle on Murray.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal 08.03.10