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Two goals
in two minutes just before half time saw Buckie Thistle extend their
unbeaten run to twenty two Scot Ads Highland League games ensuring thus
ensuring the streak enters its twelfth month.
Buckie took the lead in the seventh minute of the game with a perfectly
executed set piece routine. The attackers drew the defenders on top of
their keeper and as Richie Davidson lined up to take the kick Donnie MUNRO
raced forward from the halfway line to take the measured cross first time
on the volley firing it in to the top corner off the underside of the bar.
The Jags were taking every opportunity to get a shot at goal and Richie
Davidson went close with two efforts before the quarter hour. Firstly he
fired a shot from 18 yards that flew a foot wide of the postage stamp
corner then a lay off from John Coutts saw him slide a low effort wide of
the same post.
Lossiemouths first effort of note came on the quarter hour when Davie Muir
raced down the right and then jinked inside past two men before firing a
low shot which went past Kevin Mains left hand post.
With the wind behind them Buckie were pressing Lossie back but the game
had settled down and the home support had to wait until the 33rd minute
for another effort of note. Stephen Bruce collected the ball down the wing
then turned and fed John Coutts. His backheel set up Richie Davidson but
this time his effort was blazed over the bar from 8 yards.
Stand in goalkeeper Graham Flynn excelled himself in the 40th minute his
bravery leading to a fantastic point blank save. As Lossie looked to clear
the box having dealt well with another Jags corner Neil Murray lifted the
ball over the defence where Stephen Bruce advanced and turned to control
it on his chest before turning and shooting in a oner but Flynn was on the
mark to make the save.
Two goals in the last two minutes of the half gave the first forty five
minutes a completely different complexion. The first came from a corner by
Richie Davidson that was flicked into the air by Stephen Bruce. When Flynn
came out to claim it he and Mike Sanderson collided while going for the
ball and when it spun off the midfielders head Lewis MACKINNON was
on hand to bullet it into the net from seven yards.
Moments later Paul LAMBERTON started and finished a move down the
left to end the half. Having won the ball at the back Lamby laid it into
John Coutts and continued his run eventually appearing right on the back
post to turn home Neil Murrays deep cross from a foot out.
Half
time – Buckie Thistle 3 Lossiemouth 0
There were
a couple of half chances at each end in the first half of the second
period but the introduction of Mike Macdonald lead to the first genuine
opening. He drifted from the left into the middle and having won a tackle
against Gary Youngson he advanced to the edge of the area before firing
high and wide.
Buckie also brought on Neil Davidson and he went even closer although at
the other end. Lossie had numbers forward when Gavin Middleton tried to
slip the ball through for Stuart Cameron. Neil Davidson got their first
and tried to lay it back to his keeper but with too much pace on the ball
it beat Main and went wide off the outside of the post.
Good play by Craig Morrison then saw him play in Davie Muir on the left,
he in turn laid it across for Kyle Stewart who had peeled off his man but
from six yards he skied his shot over the bar.
Lossie had clearly gained heart by their second half performance and a
flurry of corners in the dying moments saw them come close to pulling one
back. When Gavin Middletons deep corner fell to David Muir the striker
fired and effort towards the goal which Kevin Main had to parry over the
bar. The next corner then saw Kevin Stuart try his luck but the effort was
deflected away once more.
In the end it was a scoreline Duncan Shearer would have been happy with
and he will be further buoyed by the lack of injuries or suspensions
collected in the game. With John Coutts and Neil Murray completing 90
minutes and Mike Macdonald coming back into the fray there were plenty of
positives ahead of next weeks Scottish Cup match.
However it was also a day where Lossiemouth could look towards the
positives with a change of formation and a fighting spirit seeing them
ensuring that the Jags never had it their own way throughout the 90
minutes.
Full
time – Buckie
Thistle 3 Lossiemouth 0
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