The "Fishermen's Derby" has long been a hotly contested fixture between these sides, but, given Lossie's lowly position in the league table and the Jags, fresh from Aberdeenshire Cup glory at Huntly the previous week, many tipped Thistle to rattle up a cricket score.

At the interval, it looked as this might be the case, but a rousing half time speech from Tommy Madden had the "Gollachs" take the field to play for pride.

Whatever he said, the manager's pep talk appeared to have done the trick, for although Buckie didn't strain too much in the second half, perhaps with next Saturday's Scottish Qualifying Cup trip to Glasgow in mind, the red shirts gave the hoops little time on the ball to make any concerted efforts on goal.

The game got underway, in front of a noisy crowd and Thistle were first to show, as they attacked the "town" end goal.

A youthful Lossie side were fairly buzzing as the Jags moved goalward and with only 6 minutes played, the Buckie travelling support were in heaven, as CRAIG MacMILLAN picked up a loose ball in midfield before whacking it fully 35 yards, over the stranded Masterton and into the net.

Was this to be the precursor to an afternoon goal-fest? As it turned out, it was yes and no, for, despite taking this early lead and dominating much of the first half, Thistle were still only a single goal ahead and we all know that a slip or mistimed challenge can soon upset such a slender lead.

A lay-off to Andy Matheson by Steven "Marra" Bruce promised much, but the dormer Dundee midfielder's shot hissed angrily, a yard wide of Masterton's right hand post.

The bulk of possession was Buckie's but although they forced a number of corner kicks in quick succession, the home defence, through a blend of determination and good fortune, managed to keep them at bay.

In addition, the excellent hands of the young Lossie ‘keeper, who performed heroics despite a knee injury which hampered his mobility, kept any on-target efforts away from goal.

Lewis MacKinnon, the previous week's hero, shot narrowly wide of the mark in 20 minutes, while up in support of his attack at another set piece, fuelling the doubts that some of lesser faith may have harboured.

At this point, midway into the first period, the game fell somewhat flat and a driven cross by Blackhall, during a rare Lossie attack saw the home side win a corner, but they were unable to make a dent on Thistle's defensive formation.

Meanwhile, the impressive David Macrae sent in a rising 25 yard drive which, like his side's earlier attempts, was narrowly off target.

Tony Low was in great form on the left flank, causing mayhem every time he got the ball, but Lossie's central defensive pairing of Dixon and Stuart mopped up virtually every ball the winger sent across.

Jamie Shewan powered a thunderous header on target in 33 minutes off one of Low's in swinger, but once more, Masterton came to his side's rescue with a quality save.

Three minutes later, "Franny" MacMillan seemed to have done the trick, clipping a low cross from Low towards the net, beating the ‘keeper, only for a defender to block the ball, which Masterton gratefully smothered just off his line.

Perhaps it was to be one of these frustrating afternoons, it appeared, especially when a goal-bound shot by Macrae was deflected behind for yet another fruitless corner to the Jags, with five minutes of the first half remaining.

Shortly afterwards, Lossie's Morrison was booked, apparently for dissent, then a flick on by "Marra" gave Macrae another shooting chance, only for the excellent Lossie ‘keeper to tip it away for the umptyninth corner of the half.

With a minute of the half remaining, Lossie's luck finally ran out, as Craig MacMillan found himself one-on-one with the keeper and shot for goal, but once more a stroke of bad luck appeared to intervene, with the ball rebounding off the far post, but ANDY MATHESON, following into the ‘box was able to drive it home.

The relief in the Buckie camp was palpable, but the celebrations hadn't died down when, within 60 seconds, another goal was netted, this time following a display of wing wizardry by Tony Low.

The former Nairn flyer burrowed into the ‘box, nipped along the byeline, then cut the ball back for the unmarked DAVID MACRAE, his erstwhile County team-mate, to slam home his first competitive goal in his adopted colours.

These two strikes effectively killed off the game and after the interval it seemed to be more of the same, as Thistle strove to increase their lead.

In 52 minutes, MacMillan "nutmegged" two defenders on the trot, but was defied by Masterton, by far the busiest player afield, who palmed the striker's vicious drive over the crossbar.

The home side appeared a bit more organised as the game wore on and certainly frustrated the Jags at every turn, restricting them to long range and set-piece shooting.

Lewis MacKinnon was to the fore on the hour, firing in a powerful free kick, after MacMillan was sent tumbling by a defender, he had evaded, but the ball rebounded off the defensive wall.

He became the referee's second victim, in 70 minutes, for a reckless challenge on a Lossie player in centrefield, then five minutes later headed narrowly over, following a rare mistake by Masterton, who had for once failed to control a cross from the left.

A series of tactical changes by the manager allowed David Angus, Matt  Edmond and Brian Neill to take the field in the second half, after Small, with a slight calf knock, MacMillan and Low were withdrawn.

The scoreline remained at 0-3 until the end and thoughts could then be diverted towards the forthcoming Scottish Cup road trip, which beckons.

Overall, a disciplined and efficient performance might be the synopsis on this, a potential "banana-skin" fixture and although cynics might suggest that a cricket score should have been rattled up, I am sure that the offer of a 0-3 result around 2.55 would have been gratefully accepted.

Lossie lineup: Masterton, Watson, Russell, Dixon, Stuart, Rattray(McKay66), Stewart(Wilson46), Blackhall(Ord66), Wood, Morrison, Lamont. Not used: Ewere.

Jags lineup: Main, Shewan, R Davidson, MacKinnon, Matheson, Small(Angus52), T Low(Neill64), Macrae, Bruce, MacMillan(Edmond73), Hamilton. Not used: Stewart, Strong.

Referee: Mr C MacKay.