Buckie turn on style to coast into last four

Holders Buckie Thistle will travel to Bellslea Park at Fraserburgh in the semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Cup next week after Formartine United were blown away by three goals in the opening 13 minutes.

The Jags took the lead in the fifth minute when the two smallest players on the pitch combined to set up a brilliant opener.

Zander Sutherland laid the ball wide to Ian Murray, who returned the favour by planting an inviting cross on to Sutherland's head six yards out and his powerful header gave Stewart Gray in the Formartine goal no chance.

It was 2-0 for the home side four minutes later when Andy Low's superb curling 25 yard free kick flew high past Gray.

In the 13th minute, Buckie were awarded a penalty kick when Martin Charlesworth was bundled over in the box by Paul Urquhart and Murray hammered the spot kick into the roof of the net.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute when Calum Irvine brought down Murray in full flight and within 60 seconds his manager John Gardiner was sent to the stand for remarks made to referee Morag Pirie.

Buckie added another in the 69th minute when Sutherland ran through unchallenged and rammed the ball wide of Gray from 14 yards.

Formartine were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute when Darren Wood was adjudged to have impeded Stuart McKay in the box and slotted the resultant spot kick.

Buckie responded with a fifth goal and a first for local lad Andy Gardiner, who came off the bench to slide home a superb Sutherland cross five minutes from time.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal