Saturday 25 March
Highland League Cup 1st Round: Huntly 0 Buckie Thistle 2
pictures courtesy of Dave Moore

Huntly's miserable cup run continued as they went out in another first round tie without scoring a goal after Steve Bruce netted a second half brace to ensure the Jags marched on into round two writes Grant Turner.

Both teams made changes to their squads. Huntly were struggling with injuries with Ross Campbell and Simon Scott sidelined, Russell Guild returned to the starting line-up while there was a surprise recall for the retired Martin Stewart on the bench. The jags welcomed back Shawn Scott and David Angus who were both named as subs.

Buckie Thistle very nearly took the lead within thirty seconds as John Coutts broke clear and drove in a shot that Ryszard Gorski had to alertly turn around the post for the first corner of the game.

Huntly's first opening saw Russell Guild's neat through ball giving Jerry O'Driscoll a sight of goal but the former Dundee goalscorer hit his effort wide of Kevin Main's goal. A minute later, Andy Low saw a shot go wide after John Coutts beat Lee McGregor before crossing to his strike partner.

Shortly after, Russell Guild laid off to Mark Gray. Gary's shot was driven low into the path of O'Driscoll who fired wide at the back post.

The home fans were appealing for a penalty in the 25th minute when Jamie Shewan felled Gary McGowan however the free kick was awarded on the edge of the area and in the end it came to nothing.

On the sticky surface both teams were playing with plenty of endeavour although there was little in the way of genuine craft. The play swung from one end to the other quickly in the 32nd minute when John Coutts went down claiming a free kick but with the ref waving play on Huntly raced up field but Richard Craig was too quick for the rest and with no real options available he fired a cross-shot at the Buckie goal. Main made the save.

The first yellow card of the game arrived ten minutes before the break with Stephen Bruce finding his way into the ref's notebook for a shocking foul on Lee McGregor. It provoked an angry reaction from the Huntly bench with Mike Cormack being warned with regards to his conduct by Paul Cheyne in the aftermath of the yellow being shown.

Half Time: Huntly 0 Buckie Thistle 0

A minute after the restart, Gorski was called into action after Mike MacDonald connected on the volley from Coutts' cross.
By this point, the action flowed from end to end. Guild played a ball in behind the Buckie defence to Craig who linked up well with Gairns, setting up O'Driscoll who saw his effort on goal fly over the bar.

Huntly's Lee McGregor was added to the Referee's book when he received a booking following a foul on Andy Low in 50 minutes.

Both teams struck the bar early in the second half as the pace of the match picked up after the half time cuppa. Five minutes in, a great ball from Matty Gairns played in Gary McGowan into a position to cut in from the left wing and fire a shot which beat Kevin Main but came thundering back off the woodwork. A little over a minute later the Jags were similarly denied when Jamie Shewan's header from a Richie Davidson free kick struck the face of the bar.

Buckie were not to be denied as they got their noses in front in the 57th minute. A great ball from Paul Lamberton in behind Neil Reid set John Coutts free and he dribbled his way to the bye line before cutting the ball back to Stephen Bruce who side-footed home from close range.

Huntly's Richard Craig picked up his sixth booking of the campaign following a late challenge on Michael Grant in 61 minutes.
The hosts were denied an equaliser 3 minutes later thanks to the in-form Kevin Main. Gary McGowan's corner from the left was flicked on by O'Driscoll and met with a diving header from Craig at the back post only for Main to save at close range.

Bruce was to double his tally when a free kick into the box was punched away by Ryszard Gorski. The eventually made its way out to John Coutts to deliver for Stephen Bruce who volleyed home.

The Jags kept up the pressure and looked like another goal was coming when Low robbed his marker of the ball and ran at goal but the striker dragged his shot wide of the post.
With 5 minutes remaining, the home defence was left exposed when Low picked out Shawn Scott in attack. The substitute tried his luck from the edge of the area forcing Gorski into making saving along the deck.

The Victroy for Buckie sees Duncan Shearer's side make the trip to Nairn in the next round.

Revised Quarter-Final Draw:
Wick Academy or Keith v Fraserburgh
Forres Mechanics v Fort William
Brora Rangers or Cove Rangers v Inverurie Locos or Clachnacuddin
Nairn County v Buckie Thistle