Buckie Thistle 2-1 Banks o' Dee

Two excellent second half goals from Josh Peters and Andrew MacAskill gave Buckie a vital victory over Banks o’ Dee at Victoria Park.

Blustery conditions made it difficult for both sides on the night, but it was the Jags who mastered them with a commanding second half performance giving them a hard earned three points.

Lachie Macleod had the first chance for the visitors on 10 minutes, his marauding run down the right ending with a good block at his near post by Tom Ritchie.

Michael Philipson then fired an effort over the crossbar, while at the other end Lyall Keir threatened down the left but his cross floated behind for a goal kick.

Buckie almost went in front in the 28th minute when Max Barry made a great run across the penalty area, only for Daniel Hoban to make a fine save from his low drive from 15 yards.

Dee were claiming for a penalty for handball five minutes later, Sam Morrison blocking Philipson’s shot in the area after he combined well with Macleod, but referee Harry Bruce was unmoved.

Three minutes before the break, Barry slipped a ball through for Peters, but his blasted effort from 12 yards was saved superbly by the advancing Hoban.

The Jags began the second half on top and Hoban had to tip over a looping header from Morrison after a crucial near post interception from substitute Darryn Kelly.

The opener arrived on 58 minutes, Sam Pugh playing a long ball down the inside right channel for Peters to run onto and fire an excellent low finish home from a tight angle.

Seven minutes later MacAskill swung in a superb delivery from a corner that curled beyond Hoban and in off the far post for goal number two.

Joe McCabe was having a great game for the hosts and he almost got on the end of another MacAskill cross, before at the other end Macleod didn’t connect well with a decent chance from 10 yards.

Dee did pull a goal back two minutes from the end, Ethan Cairns driving the ball across goal and substitute Garry Wood flicked home from close range.

Keir was unlucky not to instantly grab a third, controlling Morrison’s ball forward superbly on the run, cutting inside and curling his shot against the far post with Hoban beaten.

Buckie saw out the remaining minutes to seal a vital three points, closing the gap on leaders Brechin to eight points with three games in hand.

Buckie Th: T. Ritchie; J. McCabe, S. Morrison, J. Murray, D. Wood; S. Pugh (c), M. Barry; M. Goodall (L. Harvey 77), A. MacAskill, L. Keir; J. Peters (R. Fyffe 85).
Subs not used: S. Knight, E. Storrier, C. Ramsay, L. Mackinnon.

Scorers: J. Peters (58), A. MacAskill (63)