Blip is over as Buckie hit top gear

Graeme Stewart believes Buckie Thistle’s blip is over – after a 5-1 thrashing of Clach took them back to the Highland League summit.

League top scorer John McLeod netted twice in the rout to give Buckie – beaten by Keith midweek – a goals- difference lead over faltering Brora Rangers.

Brora drew 3-3 at home to Nairn County to lose ground and a delighted Stewart said: “We needed to get back to the way we began games at the start of the season.

“That’s what we did today. The first 20 minutes was as good as we’ve played.”

Main man McLeod got the ball rolling with a strike on the rebound then set up Lewis McKinnon’s headed effort before making it 3- 0 with an 18-yard strike.

Drew Copland added No.4 after 19 minutes but Clach mustered a response when Blair Lawrie’s cross was headed home by Michael Finnis.

After the break, Buckie stayed in control and substitute Craig Cowie completed the hammering.

Brora went 3-1 behind to Nairn after goals from Ross Naismith, Gary Kerr and a Gregg Main penalty wiped out Paul Brindle’s first-half strike for Brora.

But the hosts snatched a point after a double from Craig Campbell.

Elsewhere, Rothes sealed a 2-1 derby victory over hosts Lossiemouth after James McLaren claimed the winner with 13 minutes left.

The Speysiders had struck first through James McLaren before Scott Miller’s penalty levelled it for Lossie. East Kilbride’s recordbreaking run of 30 wins was derailed by a Jack Hay strike in a 1- 0 win for Spartans.

The victory takes secondplaced Spartans to within 13 points of the leaders Kilby.

Elsewhere, David Grant scored four as East Stirling hammered bottom side Preston Athletic 6-2.

New Whitehill Welfare boss Dav id Bingham recorded a 4-0 win over Civil Service Strollers. Lewis Sloan netted a double for Dalbeattie Star in a 2- 0 win over Gala Fairydean.

Rob McCartney’s late goal earned Gretna a 2-1 win over Selkirk. Blair Lyons salvaged a point for BSC Glasgow in a 1-1 draw with 10- man Cumbernauld Colts.

Vale of Leithen also drew 1-1 at Edinburgh University.