Buchanhaven Hearts seal promotion place

Buchanhaven Hearts will join Sunnybank, Fraserburgh United, Rothie Rovers and Newmachar United in the expanded 16-team McBookie.com Premier League next season.

They defeated Banks o’Dee JFC 2-1 at Spain Park to leapfrog Forres Thistle into fifth position in the Championship table.

All the goals came before the interval with the hosts opening the scoring through Scott Milne before strikes from Calum Watson and Peter Bruce turned the game on its head to clinch all three points for Hearts.

Despite wasting numerous chances in the second half, Dee failed to find the net and Hearts manager Bob Buchan summed up his feelings at the end of the match.

He said: “I’ve never been so relieved to hear a final whistle.

“We were a bit lucky if I’m honest and we didn’t play well and, with so much at stake, that probably didn’t help.

“When I arrived late in 2021, the club was in a bit of turmoil, there were still restrictions with the pandemic and it was all a bit doom and gloom.

“However, it was just pure happiness at going up after 14 years out of the top flight. I’m absolutely thrilled for everyone, the players, the committee and the supporters.”

Despite missing out on promotion, Banks o’ Dee boss Mark Robb was pleased with his squad’s first season at Junior level.

He said: “The boys have done really, really well and, while not going up is disappointing, winning the Elginshire Cup was fantastic and the step up from Juvenile football to the Juniors has gone as well as we could possibly have hoped for.

“We’re losing Danny Robertson who has won a scholarship in the USA, and Charlie Rothnie, who is going to Edinburgh University, but the majority of the squad will still be with us and we’ll be adding a few.”

Fraserburgh United, who defeated Lossiemouth United 5-0 thanks to goals from Ross Taylor (2), Jake West (2) and Bruce Patterson, finished the season as runners-up while Rothie Rovers are third after being held 1-1 at home by Cruden Bay, with Murray Cormack scoring for the hosts.