Top of the table Buckie Thistle set for Scottish Cup
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BUCKIE Thistle are top of the Highland League table after a 4-0 win over Fort William at Victoria Park on Saturday, and are hoping to take that form into the Scottish Cup tomorrow.
Jack Murray’s first-half goal was added to by a second-half Sam Urquhart penalty before Shaun Wood and Scott Adams rounded off the scoring.
It took Buckie 42 minutes to break down a Fort William side that picked up its first league win in 882 days on Wednesday, beating Clachnacuddin 1-0 at home, but manager Graeme Stewart was never overly concerned.
He said: “There was a bit of a gale and we were playing against the wind in the first half.
“Even if we went in at half time 0-0 and level pegging we would have fancied ourselves in the second half.
“To be fair we created good chances in the first half and should have maybe gone in two or three up. But going in 1-0 up I was delighted.
“Fort are a much improved team and they caused us some problems. I was impressed with some of their players and it’s probably good for the league that they are more competitive.”
Fraserburgh, who were league leaders going into Saturday’s round of fixtures, drew 2-2 with Nairn County at Station Park – having led 2-0 – and that meant the Fort success moved Buckie to the top of the table by a point.
Stewart, though, is aware it’s still early days.
He said: “You would rather be top of the league than anywhere else.
“But it means nothing just now. I’m experienced enough to know that.
“I’m trying to keep the boys focused, which won’t be hard because they all understand and some have played in title-winning teams before so they are experienced enough to know themselves.
“(Staying top of the league) has got to be the aim but it’s going to be difficult. We have shown we can’t afford to assume anything.
“We are not a good enough team to turn up and expect to win against any team.
“The Deveronvale game was a bit of an eye-opener for me – I don’t know if we were tired or if we took our foot off the gas but we can’t afford to do that again.”
The Jags have recorded five consecutive victories, with four clean sheets on the bounce, and will be looking to take that form into the Scottish Cup when the host Civil Service Strollers tomorrow.
The Strollers got the better of Forres Mechanics in a replay last year and currently sit sixth in the Lowland League.
Stewart added: “We have had a couple of reports done by a Buckie fan who lives down that way and will do a bit of research online."
