We're not just a footballing side says Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart as he says his team outbattled Fraserburgh to pick up a crucial Highland League win at Bellslea Park
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Not many sides outbattle Fraserburgh at their Bellslea Park home but Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart believes his team did just that on Saturday.
Jags had to dig deep at a windy Broch to conjure up a 3-1 win that puts them top of the league after three matches.
Stewart was happy to tally up three points that his side didn't have last term, as they were beaten at Bellslea and ended up being pipped to the title on the final day by Brechin.
"It was one of the few games that we dropped points in last year and one we marked down that we needed to pick up a result in," he said.
"It was thoroughly deserved, we were 3-0 up and it could have been a couple more. I was delighted with most of the performance, maybe a bit annoyed with the goal we conceded if I’m being honest but I shouldn’t really complain.
"Any result away from home is good and winning 3-1 at Fraserburgh is outstanding."
Stewart was impressed with his team's fighting qualities and feels his new signings have made a difference to the Jags' mentality.
"I was delighted for the players, their work-rate was unbelievable.
"You don’t normally outfight and outbattle Fraserburgh but we did. We get some plaudits for being a good football team but with the players we’ve got, we showed we can outbattle teams as well.
"If it comes down to just football we have the advantage in most games but in a game like that when it’s windy, playing downhill and the pitch is tight so it is always going to be a battle.
"We knew at the very least we would have to match them and I think we were more than a match.
"We are not well known for outbattling teams but with some of the signings we have made, we can do that.
"Players like Stuart Knight, Dale Wood and Darryl McHardy all made a difference and all three are warriors and like the hard part of the game and enjoy it. That's why I signed them.
"The likes of Max Barry and Andy MacAskill were like men possessed, and everyone seemed to have an outstanding game."
MacAskill is often Buckie's match winner and he rose to the big occasion once again, netting twice in a five-minute period in the first half - including a rare header.
He was denied a hat-trick late on when he struck the post and returning striker Josh Peters netted the rebound to seal the win. Sean Butcher pulled one back for a beaten Broch in stoppage time.
"The first goal was outstanding. Kyle MacLeod did really well, they played a one-two and Andy hit it on the volley and it was a great finish.
"Then Dale Wood puts in a great cross and Andy makes a run to the back post and I don’t know how many headers he’s scored in his career but it won’t be many. It was a cracking header into the corner.
"I was delighted for him, though he will probably be gutted he didn’t get three. He hit the post and Josh Peters follows it up."
Last season's 29-goal star striker Peters had yet to feature this season due to a hamstring strain but came off the bench to clinch the points in his first outing of the campaign.
"Josh has only had one training session since his hamstring injury so we didn’t really want to play him," Stewart said.
"But the game looked like it was going to open up in attack and his pace is blistering so we thought it be to our advantage to try and get the third goal, and we brought him on and it worked out for us.
"It was a gamble because he is not 100 per cent but that will do him good. We train on Monday and if he comes through that he will be available for Wednesday."
The first midweek league fixtures of the season see Jags host Forres Mechanics in the battle of the only remaining 100 per cent records in the league - albet Buckie have played three and Forres just two.
Stewart added: "It’s a huge game on Wednesday. I told the boys there’s no point in going out and doing what they did at Fraserburgh if we fail to get a good result against Forres.
"We want to be up on points from last season and we beat Forres in both games last season so we want to do that again.
"That’s no disrespect to Forres because we know it will be a very hard game, they have played two and won two and I know Biscuits (Forres manager Steven MacDonald) very well and he’s a good manager with a great squad. I like a lot of his players and he signed two of ours so I think they could be a dark horse this season and we will have to be at our best to get a result."
