Buckie wingers knock Strathspey flying in cup rout

Goal feast after Carrol reshuffle   

Buckie hit Strathspey Thistle for seven in a polished performance to advance in the League Cup and earn a tie at Lossiemouth.

Strathspey had no answer to the pace of Buckie wingers Paul Napier and Zander Sutherland.

Both got their names on the scoresheet and Mike MacDonald hit a first-half double.  Robbie Brown, Martin Charlesworth and Charlie Brown also scored.

Strathspey were chasing shadows as Buckie showed why they are one of the favourites to claim the trophy.

The home side had only a Joe Hardie strike to show for its efforts - although Gordon McNab did miss a penalty at a crucial stage of the game.

Buckie manager Gregg Carrol was full of praise for his players.

He said: "To get seven goals is really pleasing especially as I had to shuffle things round-about up front.  Ian Murray, Steve Bruce and Craig MacMillan were all missing.

"We know however that Martin Charlesworth and Charlie Brown can score goals and when they were called upon they delivered, as I knew they would as they are good players. Robbie Brown and David Macrae bullied the midfield, which allowed Zander Sutherland and Paul Napier to get wide and get good deliveries into the box."

Strathspey manager Donly McLeod was full of praise for his opponents.

He said: "We produced some poor defending in the first half by conceding three headers from dead-ball situations and to give a team like Buckie these opportnities was disappointing as they will punish you - especially with the strikers they have up front.

"We gave ourselves hope by getting on to level terms just after they had scored the opener.  But then we lost another header and another one and then you are chasing the game.

"Their keeper did have a fantastic save to stop Gordon McNab from making it 3-2 after we produced our best move of the game."

Match Report - Press & Journal