The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McLeod itching to end 40-goal pursuit
Target: Forward keen to reach elusive mark
Buckie Thistle forward John McLeod is eager to end his pursuit of his 40th goal of the season in today’s Highland League game against Wick Academy at Victoria Park.
McLeod is the Highland League’s leading scorer but the Jags have only played once since his last goal in his side’s Breedon Highland League Cup defeat by Forres Mechanics on February 11.
Buckie take on Wick for the second time in seven days this afternoon and McLeod does not want the wait for his elusive next goal to drag on any longer.
He said: “I need to make up for missing some of the easy chances I’ve had recently. I had a couple of one-on-ones against Wick that I could have done better with. I got the 39th goal against Forres but we didn’t have another game for three or fourweeksafter that, so it feels like it has been forever. I need to get there.”
Graeme Stewart’s men hit back from behind to defeat Wick 2-1 at Harmsworth Park last weekend, with the result moving them top of the league on goal difference.
Although Buckie’s fate is in their own hands, Thurso- born forward McLeod is not taking anything for granted in the remaining seven games and he added: “I thought Wick played better with 10 men last week, they didn’t cause us too many problems before Steven Anderson’s red card.
“The teams will know howeach is going to play, so I’d say that would make it harder but hopefully we can do it again.
“We’ve still got to play Fraserburgh, Formartine andKeith, so we have quite a fewtricky games, but they are all teams we’ve beaten already this season.
“I would not think it will come down to goal difference, I imagine in the run in teams are going to drop points.
“We just have to try and win our last seven games to make sure it’s comfortable.”
Wick travel to Moray with a depleted squad, with Anderson suspended following his red card and Alan Farquhar, David Allan, Sam Mackay and Grant Steven also ruled out. Highland League champions Cove Rangers make the trip to face a Rothes side which recorded its first win since November and a first under new manager Steven MacDonald thanks to a 4-2 success against Strathspey Thistle in midweek.
Cove trail leaders Buckie Thistle by a point andmanager John Sheran is keen to ensure there is no complacency from his side against the Speysiders at Mackessack Park.
Sheran said: “It’s always a difficult place to go and Rothes have brought a lot of players in on loan so we’re expecting them to be lively.
“They’ve everything to gain and nothing to lose but we just have to be sure we go there and play as we can and come back with the three points.”
Daniel Park and Ryan Stott return for Cove.
Formartine United, who are 11 points behind leaders Buckie Thistle but have played two games less,
“Need to make up for missing some of the easy chances” “Scored goals for fun last year but I’ll be happy if we win 1-0”
entertain Deveronvale at North Lodge Park. There are nine league games remaining in their season which ends on April 22 and United manager Kris Hunter knows he will have a hard task on his hands in ensuring his side remains fresh for the run-in.
He said: “We had to dig out a result against Lossiemouth as we had a lot of tired legs after playing extra time at Turriff United in the Highland League Cup semi-final.
“We’re unbeaten since October and while it’s not quite clicking for us we’ll go again against Deveronvale. We scored goals for fun last year but I’ll be happy if we win 1-0 between now and the end of the season.”
Huntly and Fort William meet at Christie Park in a game featuring two sides eager to bounce back from heavy defeats last weekend.
The Black and Golds lost 4-1 at Keith, while Fort lost 5- 0 at Nairn. Defender Kieran Adams is suspended for Huntly.