Fraserburgh defeated Buckie Thistle 1-0 at Bellslea to boost their hopes of retaining the Breedon Highland League title.
Scott Barbour’s strike midway through the first half was the difference between the sides and the same player also had a penalty saved in the first period.
The result keeps the Broch seven points behind leaders Brechin City, who they’ve still to play twice, and moves them to within four points of the second-placed Jags.
Fraserburgh made seven changes from the side which defeated Aberdeen University in the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield in midweek.
Joe Barbour, Kieran Simpson, Bryan Hay, Paul Young, Sean Butcher, Ross Aitken and Scott Barbour returned to Mark Cowie’s side.
Buckie made four alterations from their win at Deveronvale. Balint Demus, Lewis MacKinnon, Kyle MacLeod and Sam Pugh came back into their side.
Fiercely contested opening
The visitors were playing with a stiff breeze at their backs in the first period, but the hosts had the first opening.
Andrew MacAskill was dispossessed by Jamie Beagrie who fed Scott Barbour. After skipping beyond Lewis MacKinnon the Highland League player of the year’s shot from the right side of the area drifted just beyond the far post.
For the Jags a MacAskill inswinging corner was headed off the line by Simpson as the ball threatened to swirl in.
But on 22 minutes Fraserburgh made the breakthrough. West’s ball down the left channel was chased by Scott Barbour, who blocked Ryan Fyffe’s attempted clearance, before prodding the ball first time beyond goalkeeper Balint Demus.
Four minutes later Barbour should have doubled the lead. After a spell of Broch pressure Lewis Davidson was clipped by Cohen Ramsay inside the box and referee Dan McFarlane pointed to the spot.
But Demus made a fine save down to his right to keep out Barbour’s attempt from 12 yards.
Shortly after Hay headed over from a Davidson corner, while at the other end Marcus Goodall fired over under pressure from yards.
As half-time approached the contest became scrappier, but the effort from both sides wasn’t in question with the game played at a frantic pace.
Game in the balance
The next goal was always likely to be crucial and with the wind behind them after the interval Fraserburgh were looking to use Barbour’s pace in behind.
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart made an attacking change at half-time with Scott Adams replacing Tom MacLennan.
The first decent effort of the second period was from the home side in the 57tth minute with Jamie Beagrie’s swerving strike from 20 yards drifting narrowly wide.
Shortly after two excellent blocks inside the penalty area denied Davidson and Beagrie and then Butcher sent a snap-shot narrowly off target from 25 yards.
Demus had a fine afternoon in the Buckie goal and midway through the second period he demonstrated good handling to hold West’s rasper from 30 yards.
With 20 minutes remaining sub Sam Urquhart very nearly hauled the Jags level but his first time shot from the edge of the box fizzed just past.
Although they had created little Buckie were still in the game heading into the final stages.
With four minutes remaining the outcome was almost put beyond doubt but Demus made a great save to tip away Davidson’s 20-yard free-kick.
In the closing stages Buckie tried to put on the pressure and Scott Adams was denied with the last kick of the ball by a block from Hay.