Buckie Thistle 2-1 Brechin City

An excellent second half display earned Buckie all three points against Brechin at Victoria Park, closing the gap on the league leaders to seven points with two games in hand.

Goals from two of Jags’ outstanding performers this term, Max Barry and Jack Murray, won it for the home side after a Ewan Loudon strike had City ahead at the break.

A cagey opening saw Joe McCabe head over from a superb cross from the right by Jack MacIver, then Josh Peters raced onto Murray’s long ball in behind on 18 minutes, but he could only blaze his shot well off target.

MacIver missed a great chance to open the scoring on 25 minutes, Ryan Fyffe’s ball forward was headed into his path by visiting defender Hamish Thomson, only for the young midfielder to fire his shot over the crossbar from 12 yards.

Brechin punished Buckie a minute later, Loudon latching onto a through ball and running clear of the home defence, rounding Tom Ritchie and keeping his composure to fire the ball into the empty net.

Kevin McHattie blasted an effort just wide of the right-hand post on 33 minutes, then Ritchie was quick off the mark to gather the ball just inside the penalty area with Loudon bearing down on him.

Jags captain Sam Pugh made a vital block to deny Danny Handling’s shot from 12 yards after more great work down the left from Loudon, with Seth Patrick smashing the rebound well over.

The visitors were on top now and Grady McGrath was allowed to work his way into the penalty area, only for Ritchie to make a superb plunging save to his left to push his curling strike away for a corner.

Jags made a fast start to the second period, Murray adjudged to have fouled City keeper Lenny Wilson as he challenged for Andy MacAskill’s high hanging cross, then they did find an equaliser in the 53rd minute.

MacIver took a quick free kick on the left touchline to MacAskill, he squared it for Barry, who let the ball run across him before driving a tremendous shot low beyond Wilson into the bottom right corner from 22 yards.

Seven minutes later a superb move saw Peters do brilliantly to head MacAskill’s pass down for Keir, who played a one-two with Hamish Munro and side-footed his shot against the far post from 12 yards with Wilson beaten.

More good build-up play from Thistle saw them take the lead on 77 minutes, MacIver playing in Barry down the left side of the penalty area, his cut back found Peters and he laid it back for Murray to crash a deflected shot high beyond Wilson into the top right-hand corner.

Four minutes from time, MacIver’s cross from the right was headed straight to Peters, and he was unlucky to see his thunderous strike flash inches past the post from 14 yards.

Barry curled another effort wide from MacIver’s clever pass in injury time, and there was still time for Ritchie to give the home crowd palpitations when his clearance was charged down by Loudon to substitute Matthew Wright, but he delayed too long and the chance was gone.

A pulsating encounter, deservedly won in the end by Buckie after a superb second half performance. The win brings them right back into the title race, with a derby day trip to Deveronvale up next at the weekend.

Buckie Th: T. Ritchie; J. McCabe, R. Fyffe, J. Murray, H. Munro (C. Ramsay 90); S. Pugh (c), M. Barry; J. MacIver, A. MacAskill (D. Wood 90+3), L. Keir; J. Peters.

Subs not used: S. Knight, E. Storrier, S. Morrison, L. Mackinnon, L. Harvey, M. Goodall, S. Adams.

Scorers: M. Barry (53), J. Murray (77)