Buckie Thistle 3-0 Lossiemouth

Goals at the start of each half from Jack Murray and Max Barry, plus an instant goalscoring impact from the bench by Marcus Goodall, ensured Buckie Thistle returned to winning ways at home to Lossiemouth on Wednesday night.

The win lifted the Jags back above Formartine and Fraserburgh into third place, with three games in hand over leaders Brechin.

Murray gave the home side the perfect start after only three minutes, meeting Jack MacIver’s floated corner and looping a header beyond Cameron Farquhar into the far corner.

MacIver then swung in a dangerous ball from the right that evaded Farquhar and curled just beyond the far post, before testing the Lossie keeper again with a rasping drive from outside the penalty area that Farquhar parried behind for a corner.

Josh Peters was next to try his luck, latching onto Joe McCabe’s cross and turning well to scoop a shot just over from 18 yards.

Great build-up play from Andrew MacAskill and Peters set up Lyall Keir in the 33rd minute, but he could only hit a tame effort straight at Farquhar.

The home side remained a goal ahead at the break, with Peters coming close again early in second half with a volleyed snap shot from 22 yards.

Peters did set up goal number two on 51 minutes with a tremendous first time lay off to send Max Barry clear on the right, he cut inside into the penalty area before driving a shot low into the net.

Murray powered his way out of defence four minutes later, but his long range strike went well wide of the left post, then Peters turned well in the box and drilled an effort high across the face of goal.

Scott Adams and Ryan Fyffe replaced Lyall Keir and Joe McCabe just beyond the hour mark.

Peters was doing everything but scoring, and he was unlucky again when making space for himself in the penalty area, only to have his blasted shot from 16 yards well saved by Farquhar.

Lossie talisman Ryan Farquhar was harshly sent off for a second yellow card in the 73rd minute, before Goodall and Liam Harvey replaced Peters and MacIver for the homesters.

Goodall’s first touch was to neatly tuck the ball into the bottom left corner after the ball ricocheted around the penalty area, referee Scott Donohoe overruling the assistant referee’s raised flag and allowing the goal to stand.

Cohen Ramsay came on for Dale Wood late on and the match ended in a three-goal win for the Jags, who responded well to the disappointing defeat to Clach last weekend.

Strathspey Thistle are the next visitors to Victoria Park for another league encounter on Saturday afternoon.

Buckie Th: T. Ritchie; J. McCabe (R. Fyffe 63), S. Morrison, J. Murray, D. Wood (C. Ramsay 82); S. Pugh (c), M. Barry; J. MacIver (M. Goodall 75), A. MacAskill, L. Keir (S. Adams 63); J. Peters (L. Harvey 75).

Subs not used: S. Knight, E. Storrier, L. Mackinnon, H. Munro.