Buckie Thistle 2-0 Formartine Utd

A Lyall Keir double inspired Buckie to an impressive victory over Formartine at Victoria Park on Wednesday night.

The only change from the draw with Locos at the weekend saw Ryan Fyffe replace the suspended Sam Morrison at the back.

Jags were quick out of the blocks and Josh Peters and Max Barry set up a chance for Andrew MacAskill after just 70 seconds, but his right-foot strike from 15 yards went well wide of the far post.

Peters then placed one just wide after Matthew Maclean's clearance broke back to him off Keir just ten yards out.

The home side took the lead on 10 minutes, Ryan Fyffe’s long ball forward not dealt with by Kieran Adams, and his header let in Keir to sweep a volley confidently beyond Ewen Macdonald from eight yards.

Four minutes later Aaron Reid’s header into the penalty area looked to be covered by Dale Wood, but Julian Wade got on the end of it and volleyed just wide of Tom Ritchie’s near post, with the home side claiming for a foul on Wood.

Macdonald then passed the ball straight to Keir at the other end, but he recovered well to hold onto the Buckie forward’s low shot.
Reid was denied by the offside flag in the 24th minute, after he smacked a superb volley into the far left corner of the net from Paul Cambell’s header in behind.

Jags midfielder Barry hobbled off with a thigh injury two minutes later, he was replaced by Marcus Goodall.

The visitors threatened with another long throw from McLean from the left that was allowed to bounce in the middle of the penalty box, but a combination of Murray and Sam Pugh managed to scramble the ball clear.

Jack MacIver combined well with Peters to come close to goal number two on 36 minutes, his flashing low drive skidding just past the right hand post with Macdonald beaten.

Before the break, Reid just failed to get on the end of a Lewis Duncan free kick, then Peters whipped in a superb cross from the left that Keir adjusted well to reach, but could only volley his effort well wide.

Ritchie made a good smothering save from Wade early in the second half as he burst through onto a pass from Campbell, before Buckie swept to the other end and MacAskill released Keir down the left flank, but his low cross was well defended by the United rear guard.

Duncan had a decent strike from 25 yards well held by Ritchie around the hour mark, but it was Buckie who grabbed a crucial second goal on 66 minutes.

Goodall rose brilliantly to head a long ball onto Peters, and he nodded the ball down to the advancing Keir, who slotted beyond Macdonald into the right hand corner from seven yards.

Ritchie made another decent stop from a Wade near post header 13 minutes from time, before making an even better save from substitute Aidan Combe’s low shot after he combined well with Wade.

There was no way back for the visitors though, with Buckie earning an important three points to remain seven points behind leaders Brechin City, with two games in hand.

Next up is a long trip north to take on Wick Academy on Saturday afternoon, before a huge match against Brechin next Wednesday night.

Buckie Th: T. Ritchie; J. McCabe, R. Fyffe, J. Murray, D. Wood; S. Pugh (c), M. Barry (M. Goodall 26); J. MacIver (S. Adams 82), A. MacAskill (C. Ramsay 78), L. Keir; J. Peters.
Subs not used: S. Knight, E. Storrier, L. Mackinnon, L. Harvey, H. Munro.

Scorers: L. Keir (10, 66)