Forres Mechanics 0-1 Buckie Thistle

A superb 25-yard strike from defender Jack Murray gave Buckie Thistle victory over Forres Mechanics in the Second Round of the Scottish Cup at Mosset Park.

Forres made a fast start and Ryan Fyffe picked up a first minute booking for a foul on Calum Frame on the edge of the penalty area, but Lee Fraser drilled the free kick straight at the wall.

Cans forward Shaun Morrison then dragged a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Buckie responded with a good ball through from Max Barry, but Josh Peters’ effort from the right of the penalty area flashed across goal to safety.

Andrew MacAskill had a half volley from the edge of the area deflected wide for a corner on 24 minutes, before Stuart Knight held on well from a decent Ethan Cairns glancing header at the other end.

Jack MacIver then brought a low save from Aidan MacDonald with a 30-yard free kick, before Darryl McHardy fired wide from a Jack Murray cross.

Knight saved a Morrison shot with his legs after he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Buckie went in front on 39 minutes and it was a goal fit to win any cup tie. Jack Murray stepped out of defence, played a one-two with Joe McCabe, and curled a superb strike into the top left corner from 25 yards.

McHardy was unlucky not to make it two shortly afterwards when his goal bound volley was cleared off the line after a free kick.

Scott Adams replaced the injured Andrew MacAskill for the visitors at the break.

The second half was a really hard-fought affair as both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

MacIver blasted a shot over from 18 yards after a good one-two with Max Barrry, then McHardy whipped in a free kick that was punched awkwardly over the crossbar by MacDonald.

Lyall Keir replaced Jack MacIver with eight minutes remaining, but two minutes later Ryan Fyffe received a second yellow and a red card for the visitors, who quickly replaced the unlucky Adams with Cohen Ramsay.

Keir almost clinched it twice late on, cutting in from the left to fire one just beyond the far post, then having a lobbed effort saved well by Macdonald after another good run.

The Jags saw out the final few minutes with ten men to claim their place in the Third Round draw on Sunday evening.

Buckie Th: S. Knight; J. McCabe, J. Murray, D. McHardy, R. Fyffe; D. Wood, S. Pugh (c); J. MacIver (L. Keir 82), M. Barry, A. MacAskill (S. Adams 46) (C. Ramsay 86); J. Peters.

Subs not used: E. Storrier, J. McLeod, H. Munro.

Scorer: J. Murray (39)