Tuesday 2 November
Buckie Thistle 0 Huntly 2
There was little excitement in the first-half of this Highland Youth League game against Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park on Tuesday night, but it livened up straight after the interval when Huntly took the lead with two quick goals which they held on to despite all-out pressure by the home side to get back into the game and win their first game of the season after 6 defeats, writes Alex. Bremner.

Jamie Barclay was the first 'keeper to be brought into action with the game 10 minutes old when he held a long-range effort from Stuart Allan and was then fortunate not to lose a goal when Bruce Milne broke through in a fast run on the left and fired in an angled drive which caught the 'keeper out of position only for the ball to fly just wide of his far post.

A quick break by Buckie gave Bryan Bell an opening to fire just wide and as they kept up their attack they forced two corners in quick succession before Nicki Smith sent his header off the second over the bar.
Another corner for Buckie minutes later was sent over by Shane Clark for Bryan Bell to pull a fine save from Steven Thomson when he dived down full length to hold the home player's header on the line.

Huntly came into the game when Robert English opened up the home defence with a great through ball which brought Jamie Barclay racing out of his penalty box to beat Gary Harris in a race for it to belt it clear.

There was a let-off for Huntly when Michael Ewen broke through on the left and sent over a low ball which Nicki Smith connected with to fire in a fierce drive which, fortunately for Huntly, came crashing back off a post.

Minutes later, there was an escape for Buckie when Jamie Barclay let the ball run loose when challenged by Gary Harris only to recover in time to block the Huntly striker's attempt at the empty goal.

Half-Time: Buckie Thistle 0 Huntly 0

Huntly went straight into the attack after the interval and with only a minute gone Robert English split the home defence with a great through ball for Gary Harris to run on to and go clear to fire past the advancing Jamie Barclay in 46 minutes.

There was no let-up by Huntly and before Buckie knew what had hit them they found themselves trailing by a second goal in 49 minutes. In a quick break by the visitors, Jamie Barclay, at full stretch, could only push away Stuart Allan's fierce drive, with Gary Harris running on to the loose ball to drive it into the net past the helpless 'keeper.

From then on Buckie put the pressure on Huntly in an effort to get back into the game, but all credit to the visitors their defence was brilliant and dealt with everything that came their way.

The nearest Buckie came to scoring at this stage was when Nicki Smith sent the ball over for Michael Ewen to drive high over from a good scoring position, and then Michael Ewen set the ball up for Ryan Mair to do the same.

There was more danger for Huntly when Buckie were awarded a free kick right on the end of the visitors' penalty box only for Shane Clark to send his fierce drive high over the bar.
Huntly were being kept on the defensive now and when Nicki Smith got the ball just inside their penalty box he let go a vicious drive which Steven Thomson brilliantly tipped over the bar.

The visitors held on to their lead, however, and have now turned out to be a real thorn in the flesh of the Thistle this season with the 1st XI., the Aberdeenshire League side and now the Youth side all winning at Buckie.