Buckie breeze to a wind-assisted win

A “CONVINCING performance” was not translated into a more comprehensive scoreline against derby rivals Deveronvale, admitted Buckie boss Graeme Stewart. However, Stewart was nonetheless proud of the display by his team as they eased to a 2-0 win on Saturday afternoon at a raindrenched and wind-battered Victoria Park. A first-half penalty won and converted by Steven Ross and a wind-assisted Andy MacAskill effort with just under 10 minutes to go sealed the win. The final result could have been more with MacAskill hitting the bar direct from a corner and Sam Robertson forcing a superb save out of goalkeeper Errol Watson. Buckie should have turned territory and possession into more goals but they never looked in any danger of conceding Stewart said: “We must have had 75-80 per cent possession and they never really had a chance.
“In terms of dominating the game I was delighted but we just need that little extra in the final third of the pitch and we have been struggling for that the last couple of weeks.” Skipper Kevin Fraser made his first start of the season after being sidelined by injury and despite a heavy pitch, his energy was a key factor for the home side. He lasted 70 minutes when he was given a wellearned rest. “We only wanted to play him a half and in an ideal scenario we would have taken him off earlier. You saw how important he is to us and he is like two players rolled into one. “Hopefully, he won’t have too bad a reaction because he wasn’t feeling brilliant after training on Thursday. “He was desperate to play and did a fitness test before the game. Right now it is just
a bonus to get him back. “We need to build now and realistically seventh place is the aim. “We need the same performances each game between now and the end of the season. “Things need to change for us to get the next level again because we are not happy finishing seventh.” Buckie were on top right from the off but it took until 10 minutes before the break to open the scoring. Steven Ross latched on to a delightful Lewis MacKinnon chip and went down under a challenge by keeper Errol Watson. Penalty said referee Harry Bruce and Ross expertly tucked it away. MacAskill had hit the bar with one corner-kick before another was cleared nine minutes from time. The ball fell to him and his cross flashed into the far corner. Buckie: Herbert, McKenna, MacKinnon, Adams, Morrison, Fraser (Cowie 71), MacAskill, Robertson (Murray 62), Ross, Dorrat, MacKenzie (Skinner 82). Not used: Milne, Munro, Strong