Buckie Thistle 2  Rothes 1

Marra's Late, Late Show sees the Jags overcome a plucky Rothes side 2-1 deep in added time.

After his team's dramatic late win over a plucky Rothes side, Buckie Manager, Duncan Shearer was a relieved man. "I am delighted with the win, but not the overall performance, for although 2-1 is an acceptable result on just about any occasion, I was disappointed with the showing of a number of my players and I told them so, in no uncertain terms."

He continued "I was knocked for six this morning when I received two phone calls from Jamie Shewan and Lewis MacKinnon, to advise that they were unfit through knee and neck injuries, but still felt that we could win this match, without them. Full credit to Rothes though, for they put up a spirited performance, pushing us all the way, but that last minute winner was a great relief."

Brian Thomson, returning to the Viccy for the first time as a manager, was delighted with his players efforts, but disappointed that they had been unable to pick up at least a point.

"Teams like Thistle, who will probably be challenging for the title, come the end of the season, can destroy you if you allow them to play to their strengths, so we set about harassing them at every turn and very nearly caused an upset, but for their last gasp winning goal." was his initial observation.

The former Jags striker went on to comment "We had a few chances after pulling level, and, with a bit of luck might have nicked the points, but that's the way it goes, I can't fault the lads who played out there today, it was a great team effort."

The gutsy Speysiders started brightly, with Richard Shanks rattling Kev Main's crossbar in the second minute, as they demonstrated that they hadn't come along just to make up the numbers.

Thistle recovered from this near setback and, following a string of frees awarded as they advanced up the right, David Macrae fired an angled shot a matter of inches over David Mair's crossbar, with the Buckie Rovers man apparently beaten.

With 14 minutes played, Mair was on hand to hold a cross by Stephen "Marra" Bruce, as Craig "Franny" MacMillan awaited any scraps.

Buckie eventually gained a measure of control though and midway through the first half, CRAIG MacMILLAN latched onto a ball over the top before out-sprinting two markers to chip the ball home over the exposed Mair for the opener.

In the 31^st minute, after some spirited midfield play, Brian Neill and Andy Matheson linked well to give the latter a shooting chance, but the holding player dragged his shot wide of the far post.

With the interval looming, Andy Matheson fired in another effort, then David MacRae's knee, sent the ball over the crossbar from a left wing cross, just before the referee signalled half time. Rothes' Kris Duncan was booked for dissent in 44 minutes.

Just after the restart, Thistle won a free kick on the right apex of Rothes' penalty area, but although a defender only half clear the initial cross to T Low, the winger's acrobatic effort flashed wide of the mark.

Thistle might have doubled their lead on the hour, when after a Rothes move broke down, the Jags came away upfield, with Tony Low setting up MacRae, but a superb save by Mair denied the Jags playmaker a deserved goal.

This move proved a false dawn and the Jags were unable to build on this attacking surge while the visitors continued to hound and harry, culminating in the 64^th minute with an excellent equalising goal.

Chris Henderson, who had only been afield for four minutes, motored to the byeline before cutting the ball back low and hard for MARK TAYLOR to smash home a 10 yarder to tie the contest.

Buckie huffed and puffed their way forward at every opportunity, but could not find a way through the stuffy Rothes rearguard, which performed heroics as they held the table toppers at bay.

The visitors themselves came close, when Shanks sent a shot wide of the mark, then knocked a speculative chip wide of target, from 30 yards, with Kev Main caught in no-man's land.

 Shearer's troops pounded away with scant reward and it appeared that they might rue the defensive lapse which allowed the plucky visitors their leveller, until deep in added time, when after the second of a brace of late corners, taken by Tony Low, STEPHEN BRUCE bundled the ball home from close range to the relief of the home supporters.

With Locos also winning on the day, the value of Marra's strike might yet be a real counter towards the championship although it is of course very early days yet.

Next week sees our pilgrimage to PRP, to challenge the Vale team who also won narrowly at even lowlier Lossiemouth; anyone intending going to the game please note the early kick off time 12.30pm, to allow all fans who wish to watch the vital Scotland v Lithuania Euro qualifier.

Buckie Lineup: Main, Neill(Edmond83), R Davidson, Angus, Matheson, Small, T Low, D MacRae, Bruce, MacMillan, Hamilton(Stewart68). Not used: A Low, Urquhart, Strong(gk).

 

Rothes lineup: D Mair, Sim, Shortreed, I MacRae, Sharp, Milne, Collins, Taylor, K Duncan(Henderson59), Shanks, R Duncan. Not used: N Mair, Massie, Hendry, Thomson.

Referee: M Pirie.