Pressure on City as Jags fight back

Buckie Thistle came from behind to beat Brechin City and ramp up the pressure in the Breedon Highland League title race last night.

In tricky underfoot conditions following the recent rain, both sides served up an enthralling contest for the large crowd packed into Victoria Park.

Ewan Loudon put City in front, but in the second half Max Barry and Jack Murray struck to win it for the Jags.

The result means fourthplaced Thistle are seven points behind City – who top the table – but crucially have two games in hand.

Second-placed Fraserburgh are three points off the summit, having played a game more than Brechin and three matches more than Buckie. Banks o’ Dee, who are third, are a point behind the Broch, having also played 30 games.

Brechin manager Gavin Price made three alterations from their weekend win against Turriff United with Hamish Thomson, Seth Patrick and Luke Strachan coming in.

The Jags had a couple of early opportunities. Joe Mccabe’s pass in behind released Josh Peters, but City goalkeeper Lenny Wilson was out to block before the home striker could shoot or go round him.

Then Mccabe headed over from Andrew Macaskill’s right-wing cross.

In the 17th minute Brechin had the ball in the net with Loudon finishing from Danny Handling’s pass, but the offside flag was up.

On 25 minutes Buckie had a gilt-edged chance when Fyffe’s ball forward was missed by Lewis Martin. That let Maciver in on the left side of the area, but with a clear sight of goal, he blazed over the crossbar.

A minute later Brechin punished that profligacy by taking the lead.

Euan Spark’s clearance was controlled by Grady Mcgrath on halfway and with the Jags playing a high line, he slipped Loudon through on goal, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Tom Ritchie and found the net.

As half-time approached Thomson’s vital interception stopped Barry from scoring and at the other end Sam Pugh blocked a Handling effort.

Then Brechin’s Mcgrath found space on the left side of the area, but his netbound shot was tipped away by Ritchie at full stretch.

The next goal felt like it would be important, particularly for Buckie’s hopes of victory, and they got in the 54th minute.

Maciver and Macaskill worked a short-free-kick on the left flank and the latter teed up Barry to blast a low right-foot shot into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Thistle were in the ascendancy and had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 64th minute.

Peters’ header down found Munro inside the area, he squared the ball for Lyall Keir, but he cracked his shot against the right post.

It seemed like Brechin had weathered the storm as the contest became scrappier.

However, Buckie remained the team doing most of the probing and it paid off when they got the winner in 77th minute.

Barry did well to find space on the left to cross, Peters controlled with his back to goal and laid the ball back for Murray at the edge of the area and his drive took a wicked deflection and looped into the top right corner.

Defender Murray has been a talismanic figure for the Jags both at the back and in attack and that was his 19th goal of the season.

Four minutes from time Peters could have sealed the points for Buckie, but he fired wide from 15 yards.

However, it didn’t prove costly as the Jags saw the game out to set up a potentially thrilling climax to the campaign.

BUCKIE BLOW: City’s leading scorer Grady Mcgrath tries his luck on goal as the Glebe Park side pressurise the Jags.