An early goal from Max Barry was enough for Buckie Thistle to defeat a resilient Keith side at Victoria Park and clinch the Highland League championship for the 12th time in the club’s history.

Fitting that it was the young Aberdonian to get the winner on the day, as both he and Jack Murray have had outstanding seasons for the Jags, while the whole squad have worked miracles to end the league campaign with six straight wins in only 13 days.

Manager Graeme Stewart and his coaching staff have done brilliantly to manage the squad through such a busy spell of games, and he made changes again for this one, restoring Ryan Fyffe, Hamish Munro, Andrew MacAskill and Josh Peters to the starting eleven.

The home side started well and after Jack MacIver drilled an early cross into the side netting, Jags made the vital breakthrough after just eight minutes.

MacIver found MacAskill from a throw in on the right, the mercurial number 10 then threading a superb return pass to MacIver, who drilled a great ball to the feet of Barry just inside the penalty area. Barry moved the ball onto his left foot and curled an excellent finish beyond Darren McConnachie and in off the far post.

Two minutes later Peters held the ball up well in the box and found MacAskill, but his shot was blocked and cleared by the visitors.

Lyall Keir then got down the left flank on 16 minutes, his low cross fired high and wide by Peters at the front post.

Buckie continued to create chances and Barry lifted a good through ball to MacIver, but he fired just over the crossbar from a tight angle on the right of the six yard box.

MacIver then pounced on a loose ball to release Peters in behind, his low effort flashing just wide of the far post from 12 yards.

Gavin Elphinstone fired a shot well wide from distance in a rare Keith foray forward, before MacIver curled a superb effort into the side netting from a 30-yard free kick.

Just before the break, Joe McCabe’s ball into the penalty area was beautifully dummied by Barry, and Peters’ shot on the turn was deflected over for a corner.

Sam Morrison came on for Ryan Fyffe at half time, with Fyffe on a yellow card.

Jack Murray was denied by a fine McConnachie save from his low drive on 48 minutes, then MacIver drove forward from midfield and fired a shot across goal and wide of the left hand post.

Barry was next to try his luck with a low 20-yard strike that was well held by McConnachie.

Keith threatened just beyond the hour mark, Michael Taylor latching onto a headed clearance to hook a volley towards goal, with Elphinstone just failing to connect as the ball crept wide of the far post.

Scott Adams and Dale Wood replaced Peters and MacAskill for the home side, and Adams almost made it two when he slid in to rob McConnachie, but the veteran stopper recovered well to smother the loose ball and avert the danger.

The tension was building as the match entered the final 15 minutes, McCabe heading well over the crossbar then Keir volleying a chance straight at McConnachie after being put through by Barry’s lofted pass.

Tom Ritchie gathered a dangerous cross at the far post under pressure from Maroons sub Michael Ironside with five minutes to go.

Thistle held on to clinch victory, sending the home fans wild as they invaded the pitch to embrace their heroes.

Brechin did manage a late winner at Brora Rangers, but it was too little, too late for the Hedgemen, as Buckie claimed the title on goal difference.

A monumental season for the Jags, who looked out of the title race just three weeks ago, after the disappointing goalless draw at Deveronvale.

Redemption gained for the heartache of losing out on the title on the final day of the last two seasons, this squad of players fully deserve the accolade of Highland League champions, season 2023-24.

The season of course isn’t over yet, on to Tuesday night and the Aberdeenshire Cup Final against Inverurie Locos at Kynoch Park, followed by the two-legged play-off against Lowland League champions East Kilbride.

Can these Jags players find the energy to claim another trophy and win through to a play-off final against ‘Club 42’? We’ll soon find out.

Buckie Th: T. Ritchie; J. McCabe, R. Fyffe (S. Morrison 46), J. Murray, H. Munro; S. Pugh (c), M. Barry; J. MacIver (M. Goodall 90), A. MacAskill (D. Wood 65), L. Keir; J. Peters (S. Adams 61).

Subs not used: E. Storrier, D. McHardy, L. Mackinnon, L. Harvey, C. Ramsay.
Scorer: M. Barry (8)