HAVING twice trailed, Buckie Thistle scored the latest of late injury-time winners to edge past local rivals Deveronvale for the second time in two weeks on Tuesday afternoon.

Deveronvale took the lead through Matt Jamieson's eighth minute strike and, after Andy MacAskill's 20-yard strike to level, were back in from when Dane Ballard stunned goalkeeper Balint Demus with a 25-yard effort.

An instant reply from Josh Peters saw the scores level at half-time, but Buckie were up against it again with 20 minutes to play when centre half Jack Murray was sent off.

But the hosts pushed on and grabbed a 94th minute winner at a corner when Ryan Fyffe nodded into the path of Peters to score from a matter of inches.

"Again we showed unbelievable character, fitness and attitude – all the things you need to be successful we showed," Buckie manager Graeme Stewart said.

"After going down to 10 men we were brave. We weren't going to sit back and take a point, it was a must-win game, so I loved the fact we showed the character.

"I kept saying to the boys we need a goal and they delivered it. Two or three seasons ago we wouldn't have won that game so I'm delighted with that.

"On the flip side, we can't give to goals away against anyone, but against a team in the bottom six it was shocking defending. Playing somebody onside, missing headers, not going through tackles.

"That will be sorted out one way or another, either they'll sort it out or I'll sort it out and get players in who will defend – it's that simple, and I've told them that.

"We are here to win things and if we can't keep clean sheets then we aren't going to win anything.

"So it was an eye-opener defensively, but the flip side is the character shown, which you need."

Deveronvale got a dream start when Horace Ormsby beat the offside trap before squaring to Matt Jamieson whose first-time strike found the bottom corner.

Buckie levelled just before the half hour mark when Andy MacAskill's 20-yard strike found its way in at goalkeeper Sean McIntosh's near post.

Five minutes before the break, 'Vale were back in the lead out of nothing. A long goal kick up the park was controlled by Dane Ballard, who took goalkeeper Balint Demus completely by surprise with a low 25-yard effort.

Within seconds of the restart, though, the Jags were back on terms – Josh Peters turning in a low ball from the left with the most delicate of touches.

Demus was replaced at half-time with concussion after a heavy collision with 'Vale defender Aaron Hamilton, and was replaced by Lee Herbert.

'Vale had a chance to regain their lead two minutes after the break when Grant Noble slashed wide from 10 yards, and Buckie's Max Barry was denied by McIntosh on 66 minutes after a flowing Jags move.

The game blew into life with 20 minutes to go when Michael Watson fouled Marcus Goodall – with the Jags striker reacting a sparking a melee.

Minutes later Jack Murray was sent off for a lunging challenge on Watson, but the 10 men kept pushing forward and were rewarded deep into injury time.

Andy MacAskill's corner found substitute Ryan Fyffe free at the back post and he nodded into the path of Josh Peters to tap in from close range for the most dramatic of 3-2 wins.

There was still time for more as 'Vale captain Harry Noble picked up a second yellow eight minutes into injury time for a foul on Andy MacAskill.

Deveronvale manager Craig Stewart was gutted with the manner of the late defeat, saying his team deserved a point from the game.

"It's the second game in a row where I'm thinking how have we not got anything out of it," he said.

"The boys have put in an unbelievable shift again, we created a couple of good opportunities and scored a couple of good goals.

"We were on half-time and if we could have seen it through at 2-1 it'd have given us more to hold onto. That was a big moment.

"Second half we defended well and the goal they got to win it was a goal kick. Everyone in the ground can see it's a goal kick apart from the referee.

"It's another huge decision that goes against us and that seems to be the story of our season."

Buckie travel to Wick Academy on Saturday afternoon. The Jags are yet to decide whether they will appeal Jack Murray's red card.

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