Buckie Thistle 8 Strathspey Thistle 0: Goal blitz gets Jags ready for Highland League top-of-the-table clash at Brechin City this weekend
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
BUCKIE Thistle go into Saturday’s “huge” Highland League match at Brechin City full of confidence.
Jags are aiming to extend their unbeaten league run to 30 matches by firing down Brechin, one of just three sides to defeat them in the league last season.
Indeed, Brechin were the last side to defeat Buckie in the league last October, with Graeme Stewart’s side winning 28 and drawing one of their 29 league fixtures since that day.
A thumping 8-0 win at home to Strathspey Thistle on Saturday was Jags’ latest success, with new boy Josh Peters scoring four times against his former club.
Manager Stewart said he had to be critical of his team after their scored just twice in the first half, and he directed some of the blame at recent recruit Peters and got the desired response.
“I felt we could easily have scored six in the first half,” Stewart said. “I was quite critical of the likrs of Sam Urquhart, Kyle MacLeod and in particular Josh, who could easily have had three or four himself in the first half.
“In the second half he was just unbelievable. I can already see he’s the best finisher in the squad and he never missed a chance after that.”
A blistering Urquhart finish and a Jack Murray header had put Buckie 2-0 up, and the floodgates opened after the break.
A devastating 20 minute spell saw Buckie add five more, with Peters getting four of them to bring his tally for the club to six in just four matches.
MacLeod also netted during that blitz while Declan Milne, who was recently placed on Buckie’s transfer list at his own request, also chipped in with a goal.
“I was pleased for Declan getting his goal and there can still be a chance for him to fight for a place in the team,” Stewart said.
All Jags’ focus now turns to Brechin and a vital clash between two teams who have won all of their opening four league games.
“It’s a huge game, and we will be speaking about the importance of it all this week.
“Brechin were the last team to beat us and we we want to keep this run going for as long as we can. We don’t just want to stay unbeaten, there’s absolutely no doubt we are going there for the win against a Brechin side which will be right up there challenging for the league this year.”
Stewart could have injured trio Max Barry, Tom MacLennan and Mark MxcLauchlan back in training this week and in contention to play at Brechin.
But they are set to be without three central defenders, with Sam Morrison and Ryan Fyffe injured while Lewis Mackinnon's red card on Saturday could be subject to a club appeal as they have disputed the decision and may call upon video footage.
