BUCKIE THISTLE 2           ( H/T 1-0)       INVERURIE LOCOS 0

After his side's emphatic victory over the table toppers at  sun-kissed Victoria Park, Buckie manager, Duncan Shearer was, as ever, in talkative mood.

"We deserved that win today, although make no mistake, Locos are a very good side and, along with the likes of Deveronvale, Cove Rangers and Keith, will be snapping at our heels,  we having taken over top spot in the league at this point, but there is a long way to go yet and my remit is to ensure that a winning team goes on the park every match-day."

The goals scored by Stephen Bruce and Craig MacMillan had obviously cheered the former Scotland striker, who continued "Craig took a while to get off the mark, but he is scoring regularly now and will be a tremendous asset to us, although the whole team deserves praise today, as they all played their part in this memorable victory, so we can now concentrate on the forthcoming Scottish Cup tie next week."

For Kevin Will, it was a bitter-sweet return to the ground he played and managed at, before taking the reins at Harlaw Park. "Fair play to Buckie, they took their chances well and the second goal in particular was a real cracker, although I felt our defence was a bit naive in allowing him room and time to control and shoot."

Having conceded top spot to the Jags, he concluded by admitting "On the day, Thistle showed their professionalism as they went about their work and the chances which did fall to us weren't capitalised upon, so we have nothing to quibble about."

The visitors looked the busier side over the first twenty minutes or so, although they weren't able to really test the Thistle keeper, during the period they held sway, allowing Buckie to gain a grip on proceedings, as they got their act together.

Locos had the chance to get on the score-sheet early on when a free kick was awarded against Kevin Small, some 30 yards out, in the second minute, but Kev Main ultimately held the ball after a brace of corners which result from the free, were contested.

Craig Ross and Tommy Wilson were prominent as the visitors dictated play but the Jags were able to break and cause problems on occasion, with Craig MacMillan and Graeme Stewart both having half-chances, which they were unable to convert.

With 19 minutes played, Scott Michie should have done better, shooting well wide off Buchan's knock down from a corner won by the trickery of Neil MacLean on the Locos' left flank.

Thistle began to come more into the game though and by the mid point of the first half, the game had become more evenly contested with both sides surging from end to end, but without tangible success.

Once the Buckie midfield unit settled, they appeared the more convincing side, willing to keep the ball on the deck  as they drove forwards and with six minutes of the first half remaining, some excellent lead up play allowed STEPHEN BRUCE, the local hero, to latch onto a diagonal pass before drawing Paul Jarvie off his line, then slipping the ball wide of the diving keeper into the welcoming net.

Just before half time, Nicky Gordon tried to pick out Gary Nicol at the far post with a driven cross, but a bold interception by the cat-like Kevin Main, who dived full length to parry the ball away, denied the visitors an equaliser.

After the interval, Thistle continued to call the shots and with 54 minutes played, the Locos defence appeared to go to sleep, as the Jags pressed on the opposite wing, completely ignoring CRAIG MacMILLAN, our talismanic striker, who cut inside then crashed home a tightly angled shot, to double the lead.

 The raucous Jags support in the enclosure was in full cry as they sensed a victory was imminent and their vocal backing certainly spurred the team on to greater things.

From having been under the cosh in the early stages, Thistle were now calling all the shots and

as the second half progressed the visitors' heads began to drop, visibly.

A number of corners kept the Locos defence on the hop, but for all their pressure, the Jags attack was unable to increase their lead, although nowadays they appear able to make a two goal cushion seem comfortable.

Another brace of corners in 86 minutes, won by the lace and skill of Tony Low, ended with fellow sub., Mike Macdonald forcing an excellent save from Paul Jarvie, the Locos' keeper, with a sizzling 30 yarder.

 Locos showed they were not a spent force, by staging a late rally, but despite a couple of close shaves, which saw Kenny Coull, who looked a shadow of his former self and Richie Singer, both pass up reasonable half-chances, Thistle held on to leap-frog the visitors and go top of the pile.

Buckie line up: Main, Neill, Duncan, MacKinnon, Matheson, Small(Angus 71), Hamilton(T Low 76), MacRae(Macdonald 68), Bruce, MacMillan, Stewart. Not used: A Low, Strong (gk).

Inverurie line up: Jarvie, McCulloch, Park, Wilson, Simpson, Buchan, Gordon, Ross, Nicol (Coull 58), Michie, McLean (Singer 50). Not used: Calder, McKinstry, Craib.

Referee: Mr R Cobb.  Crowd 750.