BUCKIE GIVE THE PERFECT RESPONSE AFTER DRUBBING

STRONG PERFORMANCE AS GOALS BY LOW AND SUTHERLAND PUT THISTLE BACK ON TOP

Buckie bounced back to the top of the table by shaking off the humiliating 7-0 festive derby defeat at Deveronvale with a strong performance against in-form Inverurie.

Locos were derailed by goals from Andy Low and Zander Sutherland before substitute Kevin Neish set up a nail-biting finish with a superb late header.

Buckie manager Gregg Carrol was happy with his side's performance.

He said: "The 7 - 0 drubbing is in the past.  We really did play well.

"We didn't let Locos settle when they were trying to hurt us up the left side in the first half with Craig Ross's pace and I thought young Darren Wood did really well against him in his first start for months.

"Forget tactics, forget formations, it is decisions players make during the game which makes all the difference.

"Jamie Michie made the decision to try to shepherd the ball out of play but Zander Sutherland read it well and nicked the ball from him before going on to score a great goal.

"With the Turriff game being off it was important for us to get three points and we did it well."

Locos co-manager Kenny Coull said: "I was disappointed it took us 80 minutes before we started to play balls into areas where Neil Gauld could hurt them.

"We did create some chances, but it was tough to try to scrape a second goal in the last few minutes."

Inverurie had the best of the first half with the strong wind at their backs but seldom troubled Kevin Main in the home goal.

In the 40th minute Buckie had a golden opportunity to take the lead against the run of play.

Sutherland was brought down in the box by Patrick Vigurs and referee Graeme Beaton immediately pointed to the spot.

Ian Murray took the penatly kick, but Locos goalkeeper Andy Reid dived full length to touch the ball on to the post before it was cleared to safety.

The opening goal was only delayed by four minutes however.  Just before the interval some neat inter-passing between Murray and Sutherland allowed the latter to set up Andy Low and the former Locos favourite gave Reid no chance with a fierce 20 yard grounder.

Low almost made it 2-0 eight minutes after the restart when his thunderous 25-yard free kick cannoned off the face of the crossbar but the Jags did double their advantage in the 58th minute.  Michie was caught in posession on the dead-ball line by Sutherland who created an angle for himself and curled a beauty round Reid from a tight angle.

Locos threw themselves a lifeline in the 89th minute when Michie's deep free kick picked out substitute Kevin Neish unmarked in the box and his powerful header flew low past Main's despairing dive - but it was too little, too late.

Report by Dave Edwards, Press & Journal