Saturday 7 January
Huntly 2 Buckie Thistle 0

A goal in either half handed Huntly their first home win in 6 games and their first league win at Christie Park over the Jags since October 2000 as the black and golds got the better of the best defence in the league writes Grant Turner.

Three minutes gone, Alan Redford broke forward on the right to cross into the centre to Graham Green who hooked a shot over the bar.
Five minutes later, some movement saw Simon Scott link up with Russell Guild who teed Levi Stephen but the final effort from the midfielder flew over the bar.

Visiting keeper Kevin Main was called upon in 10 minutes tipping a dangerous cross from Gary McGowan round the post.

Huntly were the first to notch a shot on target with former Jags midfielder Matt Gairns bringing out a solid stop from Kevin Main with a shot from the edge of the area.

In the 20th minute Gairns picked out Green but his half volley whistled into the site netting.
Huntly were on top and soon after Levi Stephen set up Richard Craig and his effort was deflected onto the post by Kevin Small before going wide for a corner.

Five minutes later, Scott crossed from deep to pick out Craig in the area whose shot was turned behind for a corner. From the resultant flag kick by Stephen, Craig again came close to breaking the deadlock heading narrowly past.

Local striker Graham Green celebrated the birth of daughter Annalise on Friday and six minutes before the break, he found the net for the second consecutive game. Matty Gairns went down the left wing before cutting back and crossing it to the back post where Green, who had evaded his marker, headed it just inside Kevin Main's post.

Green also became the first player to be booked following a challenge on Mike MacDonald in 43 minutes.

The Huntly defence had been missing some key players through injury and suspension but were solid throughout the first half as it took the visitors 44 minutes to register an attempt on goal when Ryszard Gorski made a fine stop from a Kevin Small header to ensure that the home team went in at the break in front.

Half Time: Huntly 1 Buckie Thistle 0

Buckie started the second half much like they ended the first. Kevin Small again attacking following a corner kick but this time his header went wide of goal.

Nine minutes into the second half Huntly doubled their advantage and once again it was a former Buckie man who hit the back of the net. A cross from the left by Gary McGowan deflected off a defenders head and fell into the path of Levi Stephen at the edge of the penalty area and he drilled a low drive past Kevin Main.

In the 61st minute, Ross Campbell was next into Referee Jason Hasson's book for what looked to be an obstruction on keeper Kevin Main. Richard Craig following picking up a booking for dissent directed at the official.
Two minutes later, sub Donnie Munro headed wide from a MacDonald cross. MacDonald was again the provider moments later, this but this time it was Neil Murray failing to find the target with his head.

Buckie looked to hit back and Jamie Shewan got himself into a good attacking position and rounded Ryszard Gorski only to drag his shot wide of the goal from a tight angle.

At the other end another Gairns' ball into the box once again found the lively Green who nodded well off target.

Nine minutes to go saw the introduction of young debutant Karl Farrimond signed this week from Deveronvale, Farrimond came on in place of winger Gary McGowan while local lad Lee McGregor also made a sub appearance late on replacing Levi Stephen. Lee has recently been recalled from a loan spell at Dufftown.

With time running out Andy Low's corner from the right was cleared only as far as the former Huntly man and he let rip from 25 yards out bringing out an acrobatic save from Ryszard Gorski.

The keeper's fine save was enough to stop Buckie grabbing a consolation and also his side's first clean sheet in 13 games.
In the end Huntly moved back up to seventh, within three points of Buckie with what was a deserved victory although they remain on the fringes of the title race.