Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart pleased as Jags set down marker with win against champions Fraserburgh
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BUCKIE Thistle manager Graeme Stewart was delighted to see his side defeat a direct title rival in Fraserburgh on Saturday.
The Jags boss, who was without six players for the 2-1 win at Victoria Park, said defeating the best teams will be crucial if Buckie are going to go one better than last season’s second-place finish and win the title.
“We kind of needed that win,” Stewart said.
“Last season we drew with Fraserburgh at home so we knew we had to go a step further and get three points this time.
“These head-to-head games are important and could be crucial come the end of the season. Last year we came up a bit short so we knew we had to reverse some of the results against the better sides.
“We drew with Wick and Fraserburgh at home last season so we are already four points better off.
“Having six boys out injured, most of who would have started, made the win even better. It was thoroughly deserved.”
Jags were without Sam Morrison, Scott Adams, Max Barry, Ryan Fyffe, Mark Mclauchlan and Tom MacLennan for the victory over the Broch.
But the players that were fit stepped up to the mark – with Kev Fraser giving Buckie a 53rd minute lead after a goalless first half.
Fraserburgh equalised with 20 minutes to play through Paul Campbell, but the Jags fired back. Andy MacAskill struck home a penalty after Kyle MacLeod was felled in the box to secure the 2-1 win.
None of the injured players are due to return for this Saturday’s trip to Lossiemouth.
“We hope to get them back in the next couple of weeks,” Stewart added. “We’ll look at them this week but I don’t think any will make Lossie.
“I hope we’ll get better and stronger when they come back.
“We have a good squad, which is lucky, because if didn’t strengthen in the summer then we wouldn’t have won on Saturday. I’d have probably been on the pitch!
“Lossie will be out to get us this weekend. It’s a derby.
“I want us to get off to a better start and start games a bit quicker. It seems obvious, but it makes the game easier when you score early.
“A lot of teams want to sit back against us and when we score early they have to come out and we can play to our strengths.”
Buckie were knocked out of the Aberdeenshire Cup on penalties by Formartine United on Wednesday night.
Kev Fraser and debutant Josh Peters – recently signed from Elgin City – scored before the Jags missed a penalty through Sam Urquhart on 70 minutes. Formartine then won on penalties, with Shaun Wood and Peters missing from the spot.
“I’m not very happy about it, to be honest,” Stewart added. “We missed a penalty and defended poorly for both goals. I’m not taking any positives out of it.
“We need to go and win a cup and we battered them for a bit, but you’ve got to score when you’re on top and we didn’t.”
