Strathspey Thistle find Buckie Thistle in unforgiving mood at Victoria Park
Strathspey Thistle made the trip to Moray to play Highland League champions Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park last night in search of much needed points.
But unfortunately they found the home side in an unforgiving mood in what was an uncomfortable 90 minutes for the visitors from Seafield Park.
Manager Ryan Esson made three changes from the side that had lost 4-0 at home to Formartine United at the weekend.
Out went Euan Storrier, who could not take part against his parent club, Tyler Eadie, and Dylan Lawrence who, sustained a nasty injury and may be out for some weeks.
In came Kit Fletcher, Lewis Mackie, and Scot Docherty.
The Strathy Jags went into the match with a depleted squad to face the champions and could only muster a pool of 15 players such was their plight going into the match through injuries.
The front pairing, of Aaron Nicolson and Lewis Mackie were again given the task of looking for the goals to secure the club’s first points of the season.
The opening exchanges saw both side’s create good opportunities with Marcus Goodall going close for the home while, Aaron Nicolson was only inches away from getting on the end of a Juan Cuellar cross with home keeper Mark Ridgers looking on anxiously.
But with 18 minutes gone it was the home side who made the breakthrough, when Marcus Goodall raced onto a through ball at the edge of the Strathspey box.
With Kit Fletcher advancing to meet him, the midfield lofted his effort over the keeper with the aid of a slight deflection for the opener.
Two minutes later, they doubled their lead in spectacular style, when Sam Pugh raced onto a ball 25 yards from goal to smash an unstoppable left foot drive beyond the helpless Fletcher.
The home side continued to push forward and a flashing drive from Josh Peters carried just beyond the far post after 26 minutes.
A minutes later the same player should have done better when, with the goal gaping he contrived to knock his final effort wide of the target with the keeper a spectator.
However, it was the home side who increased their advantage with 12 minutes of the first period remaining.
Neat build up play down the left ended with Lyall Keir side stepping a challenge in the box before firing low into the bottom corner.
Eight minutes later it was 4-0, when MacAskill did the spadework, and again youngster Keir did the damage with a powerful 12 yard angled drive.
The second period opened in sensational style with the visitors clawing their way back into the game with two goals in as many minutes to stun the home support.
Three minutes after the re-start they reduced the leeway through Aaron Nicolson with a powerful 15 yard effort that beat Mark Ridgers at his near post.
A minute later the visitors grabbed a second from the penalty spot.
Home keeper Ridgers was adjudged to have halted Nicolson’s progress with referee Owen Lawrence pointing immediately to the spot.
Nicolson swept home the resultant spot kick to make it 4-2.
The home side countered and two superb full-length save’s from Fletcher in the space of four minutes denied the home side.
Firstly, he pushed away a MacAskill effort, and followed it up with point blank save to deny Keir.
Back came the visitors and a dipping 20 yard effort from Scot Docherty drifted agonisingly over the bar as they looked to further reduce the leeway.
However, it was the home side that finished strongly, netting four times in the final 13 minutes, to secure all three points in devastating style.
Lyall Keir made it 5-2, and in doing so completed his hat-trick in emphatic style with an angled effort from 12 yards. Substitute Craig Cormack grabbed the sixth with seven minutes remaining.
Strathspey substitute Kieran Duffty went close to reducing the deficit in the closing stages but watched as his point-blank effort was well saved by the Buckie keeper.
Keir capped a superb personal performance with a late double in 84 and 90 minutes to round of the scoring to claim five of his side’s efforts on the night.
Strathspey Thistle: Kit Fletcher, Caelan Mutch (Tyler Eadie 57) Cameron Lisle, James McShane, Conor MacPhee, Scot Docherty, James Fraser, Lewis Mackie (Kieran Duffty 64) Aaron Nicolson, Josh Race
Subs unused: Ethan Rae (gk) Doeimassei Doguie, Aaron Doran
Match Referee: Owen Lawrence
