Match Preview

Buckie Thistle return to Victoria Park for the first time since 30th September for a home clash with Wick Academy.

The Jags recorded a 2-0 win at a much-improved Inverurie Locos last weekend thanks to goals from Scott Adams and Darryl McHardy. The win lifted Buckie up to third place, four points behind league leaders Formartine but with three games in hand.

Wick are in decent form, taking four points from their last two games against Inverurie Locos and Huntly to move up to thirteenth in the table.

The last two league meetings between the sides at Victoria Park have been tight affairs, with Kevin Fraser scoring an injury time winner on the opening day of last season.

The previous April, Wick brought Buckie’s tremendous winning run to an end with a 1-1 draw in the penultimate game of the season, Jack Murray’s injury time leveller taking the title race to the last day.

The Jags remain without the injured Andrew MacAskill, Kevin Fraser and Shaun Wood, while Marcus Goodall also misses out with a groin problem. Kevin Hanratty has returned to parent club Aberdeen after a brief loan spell at Victoria Park.

Wick player manager Gary Manson could return after missing last weekend’s draw with Huntly through illness.