Champions Buckie Thistle bounced back from the disappointment if their Aberdeenshire Cup final defeat against Cove last weekend to ease into second spot in the table.

Jags manager Gregg Carrol said: "That was one of our best performances for a long time.  It was a good reaction from the cup final.  We played a Keith team which has scored a lot of goals recently, so it was very pleaseing.  We got our goals from good football but we had Kevin Main to thank for two great saves, one in each half."

Buckie goalkeeper Kevin Main pulled off a terrific save in the early stages, tipping over a deflected Dean Donaldson 15 yarder.  However, it was Thistle who broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark with Paul Napier crashing a superb drive into the top corner.

After the break both sides had chances and it was Main who again came to Buckie's rescue on the hour with a superb one-handed save to deny Donaldson again.

Jags sewed up the points with a controversial goal.  The referee blew for a Buckie free kick then waved play on and despite Shearer's fine stop to block Ian Murray's initial effort, the centre forward rifled home the rebound.

Maroons manager Darren Still said: "We played well.  There was nothing between the teams but our decision making in the final third of the park let us down.

Report by Press & Journal