Strathspey Thistle 0-7 Buckie Thistle

A hat-trick from the outstanding Jack Murray inspired Buckie Thistle to a seven-goal rout of Strathspey at Seafield Park, sending them top of the table on goal difference.

Joe McCabe, a Scott Adams double and Cohen Ramsay were also on target, meaning Buckie go into the final game on Saturday level on points with Brechin, but two ahead on goal difference.

Spider shuffled his pack again, with Scott Adams, Sam Morrison and Cohen Ramsay replacing Andrew MacAskill, Marcus Goodall and Ryan Fyffe. Dale Wood moved into centre midfield alongside captain Sam Pugh.

Joe McCabe got in behind on the right flank early on, but his low cross was well held by Ethan Rae.

Jack Murray had an early sighter when he smashed a half volley wide from the edge of the area on 10 minutes.

Ten minutes later Adams latched onto a Pugh pass and drew a save from Rae at his near post. From the resultant corner, Joe McCabe rose superbly to power a header home from MacIver’s delivery.

Keir made a great run down the right in the 25th minute, but his cross was well cleared by the home defence.

Home goalkeeper Rae was very lucky to stay on when he brought down Adams outside the area, but referee Randall issued a yellow card only.

Adams made it two on 37 minutes, flicking a back header beyond Rae into the far corner from Pugh’s dinked ball into the penalty area.

Tom Ritchie then made a good save to deny Loveland at his near post after a defensive slip at the other end.

The visitors went straight back on the attack, and Adams won a penalty with an excellent turn away from Kerr and the big defender brought him down in the area. Murray fired the penalty into the bottom right corner for goal number three.

Pugh had a drive blocked when in space 20 yards out just before half time, with MacIver firing the rebound straight at Rae.

MacAskill and Goodall replaced Wood and Keir at the break for the Jags.

Morrison had a header well held by Rae on 50 minutes, before Adams bagged his second and Jags fourth with a superb turn and crashing low drive beyond Rae and in at the near post.

Ritchie held onto Davison’s stinging drive from the edge of the penalty area, then McCabe headed a good chance over from MacIver’s corner on the hour mark.

Murray made it five with an easy low finish from six yards and the big centre half completed his hat-trick two minutes later, with another low drive into the far corner.

Adams missed a great chance from close range with an attempted overhead kick, but he didn’t connect properly and the ball trickled wide.

Morrison then headed over from a great free kick delivery from MacIver from the left.

Hamish Munro, Liam Harvey and Ryan Fyffe all entered the fray with around 15 minutes remaining, replacing Morrison, Adams and Barry.

The subs soon made an impact, Munro having a shot deflected inches wide from a corner, then Harvey’s looping header was headed off the goal line as Jags pushed for number seven.

Murray smashed a volley off the crossbar with seven minutes remaining, then Harvey missed a great chance when his hooked effort was saved by Rae from point blank range.

Murray blasted wide from a tight angle and Pugh’s blistering shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide for a corner.

Ramsay finally did make it seven with a superb header that looped beyond Rae and in off the post from MacAskill’s cross from the right.

An excellent night’s work for Buckie, who racked up win number five in just ten days. A superb effort from everyone involved.

One more obstacle remaining in the league, with the visit of Keith to Victoria Park on Saturday. It’s going to be another thrilling end to the Highland League season!

Buckie Th: T. Ritchie; J. McCabe, S. Morrison (H. Munro 75), J. Murray, C. Ramsay; D. Wood (M. Goodall 46), S. Pugh (c); J. MacIver, M. Barry (R. Fyffe 76), L. Keir (A. MacAskill 46); S. Adams (L. Harvey 76)

Subs not used: S. Knight, E. Storrier, L. Mackinnon, J. Peters.

Scorers: J. McCabe (20), S. Adams (37, 51), J. Murray (41 pen, 63, 65), C. Ramsay (90+3)