Buckie Thistle started the defence of their Highland League title with a hard-fought win over Clach at Victoria Park.

Goals from Zander Sutherland, Donnie Munro and Paul Napier secured the points.

But with the score at 1-0 for Buckie, their keeper Darren Strong had to make a 36th minute penalty save from Michael Finnis and it could have been a different story had that one gone in.

Buckie assistant manager Gary Hake said: "It wasn't a convincing victory but we shaded it.  It was important we got off to a good start and we did.

"It took a great save from Darren to protect our 1 - 0 lead just before half-time.  Darren is good at saving penatly kicks and he got a good hand to the ball.

"We had quite a few players out but we have a big squad and the guys who came in are more than capable of doing a job for us.

"We drummed into the players long before the game they needed to concentrate on the football and forget all about the flag-raising ceremony and the celebrations which went with it and they did it very well."

With Clach manager Iain Polworth on holiday and his assistant Billy Skinner in hospital for observation and tests on a heart problem, injured skipper Gordon Morrison was in the dugout.

Morrison said: "We were beaten but put up a good struggle against the champions.  Buckie did well but I was very proud of our players for all the effort they put in.

"The penalty save was the turning point as I could see our lads' heads going down.

"It was a brilliant save from a well-struck penalty but later in the game Michael Finnis showed what he is made of by stepping up and firing home our second spot kick.

"That late goal will help our confidence levels.  We lost but the performance was quite good, so we have something to build on and the young players will learn from it."

The home side opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Sutherland cut in from the left and unleashed a low drive which flew past David Harrison from 15 yards.

In the 36th minute Clach were awarded a penalty kick when Paul Napier brought down Paul Smith in the box but Strong pulled off a tremendous diving save to fist away Michael Finnis's well-stuch effort to keep the score at 1-0.

Buckie went 2-0 up on the hour after a great one-two between Andy Low and Munro ended with the latter rifling a grounder past the helpless Harrison.

It was 3-0 six minutes later, Napier hammering another low drive across Harrison into the far corner of the net.

In the final minute Clach were awarded their second spot kick of the afternoon when Bob Duncan handled in the box and this time Finnis made no mistake.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal