Huntly 0 Buckie Thistle 2: Well-worked goals give Jags win at Christie Park
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BUCKIE Thistle beat Huntly 2-0 on Saturday, with two well-worked goals enough for the Jags to claim all three points at Christie Park.
Andy MacAskill's strike on 35 minutes was added to by Marcus Goodall – returning to Huntly after a loan spell at the club earlier this season – who struck a volley on 64 minutes to secure the win.
The win moves Buckie second in the Highland League. Manager Graeme Stewart said: “It was a really good performance. Huntly is a very good team with a very good manager.
“We knew it was going to be difficult – we have always had hard games here, we got beat 4-3 a couple of years ago and 2-1 the year we won the league, so it’s never an easy place to come.
"I’m delighted, we deserved the win and if we were lucky it could have maybe been one or two more."
The visitors were almost ahead within 20 seconds as MacAskill's shot at the end of a neat move was blocked behind.
But Huntly grew into the game and should have taken the lead on 11 minutes as Michael Dangana raced through on goal, but the new signing from Aberdeen was denied by Buckie keeper Kevin Main.
Buckie took the lead 10 minutes before half-time as a well-worked move ended with Max Barry finding MacAskill to slot in at the back post.
Youngster Jack MacIver's effort from a tight angle came back off the post after 54 minutes, but that was Huntly's only real effort after the break.
Shortly after the hour mark, a long throw in from Sam Urquhart found MacAskill, who crossed for Marcus Goodall to volley home from close range and make sure of the points for the visitors.
Huntly manager Allan Hale said: "We played really well. Our game plan and tactical organisation was really good.
"The difference between the two teams is that when Buckie had the opportunities they took them. I don't think there was a huge gulf in quality.
"The manner of the second was disappointing – the linesman was repeatedly saying on the radio that it wasn't a goal, that his right foot overstepped the line and his back foot was off the ground, but he was overruled by his referee. That's frustrating.
"That obviously impacted the players. They put a lot into the game, it was a contentious goal that was given away and the game kind of petered out after that."
Both teams travel south this weekend to take on League Two opposition – with Buckie Thistle at Kelty Hearts and Huntly at Stenhousemuir.
Hale added: "There's no pressure on Huntly Football Club to win the game, that's for sure.
"They have players with SPL experience in their team and players that have played hundreds of games at a higher level. We have players that haven't played any games at that level.
"We will be up against a team that are experienced, that will make good, quick decisions and test our organisation throughout the 90 minutes.
"But it's one where we can enjoy the occasion and learn lessons from.
"It's one where we can represent the town of Huntly, we can represent the Highland League and, most importantly, we can represent ourselves as a group that is capable of giving these teams a game."
Graeme Stewart said: "We are going there for a result. The league is the most important thing but it's a bonus in the cup and we will give it everything.
"They are a top team with a lot of ex-professional players but we have a lot of boys that played full-time.
"We will put a plan in place and we will hopefully get a result. I'm confident we'll get a result, I'm very confident in my team."
