Buckie Thistle had to battle all the way to overcome a spirited Turriff side and reduce league leaders Cove Rangers' advantage to a single point, the Jags still having a crucial game in-hand.

Stevie Bruce's double and a Davie MacRae spot-kick set up the win with Turriff's only crumb of comfort coming from Craig Morrison's first half strike.

United welcomed back Dave MacKenzie and Craig Morrison to the starting line-up while Kevin Main replaced Darren Strong in the Jags' goal, Robbie Brown returned to bolster the middle of the park while centre forward Ian Murray and winger Paul Napier dropped to the bench, their places going to Craig MacMillan and Zander Sutherland.

Buckie survived a fourth minute scare when goalkeeper Kevin Main's side footed clearance only found Grant Noble but with the visiting number well out of his goal the forward's clever 35 yard lob went inches over the top.

The visitors had the ball in the net in the 13th minute when Bruce's fierce 15-yarder came back off the face of the crossbar and MacMillan rammed home the rebound but the far side assistant raised his flag almost instantly for the off-side decision.

It took a great point-blank save by Rhys Fyfe in the home goal to deny Mike Macdonald the opener in the 25th minute but from the resultant corner Buckie did take the lead, Sutherland's cross was met by Bruce and his six-yard header sailed into the back of the net.

In the 40th minute Turriff United levelled with the Jags defence claiming offside Gary Harris fed Morrison who made no mistake from six-yards.

However two minutes later the visitors regained their lead when Donnie Munro was bundled over in the box by Andy Hutchison and MacRae scored from the resulting spot-kick.

In the 66th minute Buckie increased their advantage, Robbie Brown's superb threaded pass picked out MacRae who crossed for Bruce, who with his back to goal hooked the ball over his head past the helpless Fyfe.

Sutherland almost increased Buckie's lead in the 75th minute but Sutherland's flashing 25 yard drive came back off the bar and was cleared to safety.

Charlie Brown almost made it 4 - 1 with a late strike.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal