Celtic 5-0 Buckie Thistle

A brave display from Buckie Thistle wasn’t enough to contain a strong Celtic side at a rain soaked Parkhead on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Paolo Bernardo, Odin Holm, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Rocco Vata sent the cup holders through to a Fifth Round clash with St. Mirren, but the Highland League side can hold their heads high after a tremendous effort against their full-time top class opponents.

Jags boss Graeme Stewart went for a defensive 5-4-1 formation, with Joe McCabe replacing Sam Morrison and Andrew MacAskill coming in for the suspended Scott Adams.

The visitors had an early scare with a VAR check on a Jack Murray challenge on Liel Abada in the penalty area on four minutes, but offside was given against the Israeli forward.

A Luis Palma corner was headed wide by Maik Nawrocki three minutes later, then Liam Scales fired an effort wide from 25 yards.
Hamish Munro and Darryl McHardy both made crucial challenges to prevent the home side going in front as the pressure increased on the visiting defence.

Buckie’s offside line was clearly working well though, with a Greg Taylor cross turned in by a defender ruled out for offside, then Kyogo and Bernardo were also denied when converting crosses from Abada.

Celtic finally broke the deadlock on 25 minutes, the impressive Matt O'Riley sliding a pass through for Bernardo, who dinked a superb finish beyond the advancing Stuart Knight.

Max Barry responded by driving through midfield and playing a great ball through to Peters, but his shot was blocked behind for a corner and a late offside flag denied the Jags hitman regardless.

Eight minutes later, Odin Holm played a one-two with O’Riley on the edge of the penalty area, evaded a challenge from Darryl McHardy and swept home goal number two via the left-hand post.

Scales hit the bar with a header on 40 minutes, before an inch-perfect pass from Hamish Munro sent Peters bearing down on goal at the other end, only for Joe Hart to save his low shot with his foot.

Celtic responded instantly; another Abada cross from the right converted by the inrushing Kyogo from close in to make it three-nil at the break.

Palma made it four on 50 minutes, cutting inside from the left flank and crashing a low drive past Knight from 20 yards.

The vociferous away support were screaming for a penalty seven minutes later when Peters looked to be pulled back by Scales in the area, but only a corner was given after another VAR check.

Dale Wood made a vital sliding clearance at the far post to prevent goal number five on the hour mark, then Buckie made their first change with Marcus Goodall replacing Andrew MacAskill in midfield.

The Jags were holding their own in the second period and made further changes on 72 minutes, Lyall Keir and Cohen Ramsay replacing Josh Peters and Dale Wood.

Winger Mikey Johnston was looking lively for the home side, and he worked his way to the byline before pulling the ball back for fellow sub Rocco Vata to slam goal number five high into the net.

Knight made an excellent save from a curling Palma free kick on 76 minutes, then produced a superb stop to tip over another blasted effort from Palma three minutes later.

Graeme Stewart made his final changes in the 84th minute, Lewis Mackinnon and Ryan Fyffe coming on for Hamish Munro and Jack MacIver.
The veteran stopper made it an impressive hat-trick of saves with a great close range block to deny Vata a second with three minutes remaining.

The game ended 5-0 to the home side and the Jags players went across to take the deserved adulation of their fans in the corner of Celtic Park.

What an occasion for everyone involved with Buckie Thistle Football Club, it’s one that will live long in the memories of the fans, players, management, board members, committee, and volunteers. MON THE JAGS.

Buckie Thistle: S. Knight; J. McCabe, H. Munro (L. Mackinnon 84), D. McHardy, J. Murray, D. Wood (C. Ramsay 72); J. MacIver (R. Fyffe 84), S. Pugh (c), A. MacAskill (M. Goodall 63), M. Barry; J. Peters (L. Keir 72). Subs not used: E. Storrier, S. Wood, J. MacLeod.