Huntly 0 Buckie Thistle 2: Jags prepare for Kelty Hearts cup clash with well-earned win
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BUCKIE Thistle prepared for this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash with Kelty Hearts in perfect fashion on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Huntly at Christie Park.
Two well-worked team goals, one in each half, were enough to see the Jags pick up all three points and move second in the Highland League table.
It was 35 minutes before Andrew MacAskill broke the deadlock during a tight first period, but Buckie gained full control after Marcus Goodall’s second-half strike to secure the win.
Manager Graeme Stewart was pleased with his side’s performance – one which he hopes they can replicate when they travel to Fife to take on Kelty in the Scottish Cup second round.
He 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 league is the most important thing, but the cup is a bonus and we will give it everything. We’re going to Kelty for a result.
“They’re a top team with a lot of ex professional players, but we have got a lot of boys that played full-time too.
“We will put a plan in place and we will hopefully get a result. I’m confident we’ll get a result because I’m confident in my team.
“But it’ll be a no-lose for us, because they’ll be favourites.”
Buckie got off to a lightning-fast start at Christie Park on Saturday, almost hitting the front within 20 seconds as Andy MacAskill’s shot was blocked behind.
The hosts grew into the game, though, and should have taken the lead on 11 minutes as Michael Dangana raced through – but Kevin Main did well to deny Huntly’s new man, signed from Aberdeen last week.
It was Buckie who took the lead after a really well-worked move down the right-hand side ended with Max Barry playing a composed pass to Andrew MacAskill to slot in at the far post.
After half-time, a shot from a tight angle from Huntly midfielder Jack MacIver hit the post – but that was all that gave a solid Jags defence any worry.
The result was put beyond doubt after another good move on 64 minutes. Quick thinking from Sam Urquhart saw him play a long throw in behind Huntly’s defence for MacAskill to cross for Marcus Goodall, and he volleyed home from close range.
Stewart added: “It was a great finish from Andrew MacAskill. Andrew was struggling with a flu this week, but he was outstanding.
“Young Marcus Goodall was the best player on the park – he was outstanding and I’m glad he got his goal.
“He came on loan here, it did well for him and now he’s got his confidence, he’s come back and he’s looking unbelievable.
"He’s been good every week he’s played. He’s in the team now, so he just has to keep playing like that and he’ll stay.
“We defended brilliantly, too, we have a good defence and a good shape. I said to the guys we need to stop giving away little goals, like the one against Fort William.
“It was important we got a clean sheet and we didn’t look that troubled.”
