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Highland League finale: Buckie Thistle and Brechin City go head-to-head for the title - who have the top two still to play on the fixtures list?


By Craig Christie

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There's six more Saturday's to go in what is shaping up to be a thrilling Highland League title chase.

Brechin City are eager to take the season to a last-day decider at Buckie and grab their opportunity to return to the SPFL ranks. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Brechin City are eager to take the season to a last-day decider at Buckie and grab their opportunity to return to the SPFL ranks. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Buckie Thistle stretched their lead at the top to eight points with a crucial 2-0 win at Brora Rangers on Wednesday night.

Closest rivals Brechin City, who are desperate to return to the SPFL ranks after two seasons in the lower leagues, have three games in hand to try and overcome that points gap.

Current Highland League table
Current Highland League table

Buckie look to be favourites at the moment, with points in the bag and a more favourable finish on the fixtures front.

The bottom line is, both clubs know if they win all of their remaining matches they will claim the title.

That's because they are scheduled to meet on the final day of the regulation season on Saturday April 22 at Jags' Victoria Park.

Jags have six games left, four of those at home where they have dropped just two points all season.

Buckie Thistle have the momentum in the title race - can they handle the pressure? Picture: Daniel Forsyth..
Buckie Thistle have the momentum in the title race - can they handle the pressure? Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Graeme Stewart's side face potentially their two toughest matches last, with home games against Formartine United and Brechin to finish things off.

Before then, Brechin's quest to catch up will be met by three difficult hurdles.

The Tayside outfit have to play reigning champions Fraserburgh twice, both on midweek dates, as well as a potentially tricky game at home to Brora.

Buckie also have form on their side. They are unbeaten in their last 13 league matches, winning 12 of those.

The Jags' run bears similarity to their remarkable finish last season, when despite winning 24 and drawing one of their final 25 matches, they were still pipped to the flag by Fraserburgh.

Jags have an eight-point lead at the top, but Brechin have games in hand to overtake them. Picture: Beth Taylor.
Jags have an eight-point lead at the top, but Brechin have games in hand to overtake them. Picture: Beth Taylor.

That Fraserburgh loss was Buckie's second of the campaign having lost 1-0 at Brechin on August 20. They have also drawn at home to Banks O' Dee in October and at Huntly in January.

Brechin started the season like a runaway train, winning all of their opening eight league games before a home draw with Huntly on October 5 saw their first points dropped, ending a run of 19 consecutive league victories dating back to the previous term.

They went on to win their next six, then came back from 3-0 down to draw 4-4 with Banks O' Dee on December 23.

The Glebe Park men went a full calendar year unbeaten in league football, though they were surprisingly held to a goalless draw at Nairn County on February 11.

That started a sticky spell for Andy Kirk's men, as after 34 league matches unbeaten - the equivalent of an entire league season - they lost 2-0 at Formartine United on February 22 - one year and ten days since their last league loss at Buckie.

Brechin City surprisingly dropped points at Nairn County last month. Picture: Callum Mackay..
Brechin City surprisingly dropped points at Nairn County last month. Picture: Callum Mackay..

Even since then, Brechin needed a last minute goal to get three points at Huntly in their last league outing, and lost a League Cup semi-final at Inverurie Locos.

The momentum is with Buckie, and Brechin will need to dig deep and handle the pressure in the same way that Fraserburgh did last year to ward off Jags' incredible surge if they are to take the championship chase to the final day.

Most Highland League neutrals are hoping that will be the case and that the April 22 meeting between the powerful pair decides the destiny of the league trophy.

Jags and City's remaining fixtures:

Saturday March 18: Buckie Thistle v Rothes; Keith v Brechin City

Wednesday March 22: Brechin City v Nairn County

Saturday March 25: Brechin City v Wick Academy; Buckie Thistle v Nairn County

Wednesday March 29: Fraserburgh v Brechin City

Saturday April 1: Brechin City v Turriff United; Forres Mechanics v Buckie Thistle

Wednesday April 5: Brechin City v Brora Rangers

Saturday April 8: Strathspey Thistle v Buckie Thistle

Wednesday April 12: Brechin City v Fraserburgh

Saturday April 15: Buckie Thistle v Formartine United; Clachnacuddin v Brechin City

Saturday April 22: Buckie Thistle v Brechin City


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