Buckie Thistle squeezed past Lossie by the narrowest of margins to complete the double over the Coasters, but Lossie were far from outclassed by their opponents and will rue several missed chances in the first half that could have made a difference to the outcome.

Lossie were again without Martin McMullan and Steven Sim due to suspension, but had Nikki Smith back in the starting line-up. Craig Masterton deputised in goals again for Lossie, while Darren Strong retained the gloves for Buckie at the expense of former Lossie keeper Kevin Main. The Jags had new signing Hamish Munro, brother of Buckie stalwart Donnie, on the bench.

The teams took to the field in considerably drier conditions than the previous week, when rain threatened to postpone the game ahead of kick-off, and the visitors started the brighter of the two sides. A move similar to the one that saw Lossie score last week saw Gary Macdonald play a through ball to Shawn Scott, who raced through on goal only for Strong to block the shot just inside the area. The ball was recycled back into the area and Nikki Smith was next to be foiled by Strong, who was down quickly to save at the feet of Smith.

The chances kept coming for Lossie. Next up was Sean McIntosh, who volleyed over from six yards after being set up by a Nikki Smith header. McIntosh was later presented with a free header on the edge of the six yard box but failed to get any power behind the ball. Buckie played their part in Lossies next chance, when a Lewis Mackinnon clearance came back off Gary Macdonald and sailed just over the bar.

Once Buckie got going, a combination of fine goalkeeping and poor shooting ensured the game stayed goalless. Craig Masterton produced a flying save to keep out a header from Charlie Brown, and soon after the former Forres man had a chance from 18 yards, evading Sam Milton before slicing his shot well wide of the goal and almost out of the ground.

The home side were moving through the gears as the half continued, and Masterton again was on hand to foil Buckie, this time saving at his near post from David MacRae. The last chance of the half fell to Brown, who shot wide from inside the area.

Half time – Buckie Thistle 0 Lossiemouth 0

A sluggish start to the second half saw little in the way of real chances, but the idle spells did nothing to blunt the reflexes of Craig Masterton who pushed away a long-range effort from Stephen Bruce. The Buckie man, who scored the winner last week at Grant Park, was proving as wasteful as Charlie Brown in front of goal, and the two combined to waste another chance on the hour, the latter setting up Bruce for a shot which went wide.

Serial misser Charlie Brown, who controversially abandoned Forres and his adoring fans to sign on at Buckie in one last attempt to win a league title (or perhaps just for a better outfit to wear on a Saturday), will be grateful there are Jags players sharper than he is in front of goal, in particular Martin CHARLESWORTH. The son of the Lossie manager, on the pitch less than five minutes, headed home a cross from Brown before celebrating in front of the shed.

The celebration, the classic ‘shhh!’ move of one finger raised to the lips finished with one hand cupped to the ear, confused the crowd somewhat, and was perhaps aimed at the home support, who were their usual quiet selves during the hour of the game when things weren’t going their way. For his efforts, Charlesworth found his way into the referees’ book for his trouble, to the amusement of the travelling support.

The goal had an air of familiarity about it, beyond that of the scorers’ surname. A substitute newly on the park, a cheap header, coming around the same time as Buckie had taken the lead at Grant Park the week before.

Lossie were almost out of ideas, with Shawn Scott and Nikki Smith having run themselves into the ground once again for little return. The two almost forced an equaliser when the former set up Smith for a header which was saved by Strong.  

As the supporters walked round the pitch to the exits, Buckie almost stole a second, but Masterton was equal to Donnie Munros shot from outside the area, pushing it over the bar.

Buckie are now well positioned at the top of the league for a shot at the championship after a wait of more than fifty years for a title. Lossie now face two long haul games, with trips to Fort William and Wick Academy on the fixture list, although the approaching winter reduces the chances of completing both games on schedule.

Full time – Buckie Thistle 1 Lossiemouth 0

Teams

Lossiemouth - Craig Masterton: Anthony Ross, Sam Milton, Kevin Stuart, JJ Urquhart, Dan Smith, Sean McIntosh, Gary Macdonald, Shawn Scott, Nikki Smith, Jamie Bagley
Buckie Thistle - Darren Strong: Kris Angus, Jamie Shewan, Kevin Small, Lewis MacKinnon, Donnie Munro, David MacRae, Graeme Stewart, Stephen Bruce, Craig MacMillan, Charlie Brown

Lossiemouth - Kevin Flett (Gary Macdonald, 52), Gary McNichol (Sean McIntosh, 84), Michael Macgregor (Tony Ross, 87)
Buckie Thistle - Martin Charlesworth (Craig Macmillan, 61), Hamish Munro (Charlie Brown, 72),

Lossiemouth - None
Buckie Thistle - None

Referee

Disagree?