Mark Cowie believes Fraserburgh’s win against Buckie Thistle shows they can retain the Breedon Highland League title.
The champions triumphed 1-0 at a blustery Bellslea against the Jags, who started the day top of the table.
The Broch are seven points behind leaders Brechin City and four adrift of Buckie in second.
Manager Cowie was thrilled with the tenacious display from Fraserburgh in a game they could ill-afford to lose.
He said: “It was more like us, the performance was disciplined and with the wind it was a typical Bellslea Saturday.
“I think we controlled things against the wind better than Buckie did.
“I thought our shape was brilliant and when we got chances we took one and probably should have taken more.
“In the second half it was difficult for Buckie to get out and we probably should have scored a goal or two.
“With the results the last couple of weeks a lot of people have written us off which is their prerogative, but we’ve shown we’re still a top side in this league.
“I wouldn’t say we were out of it until we were out of it, but being realistic if we didn’t win there would have been no margin for error.
“We’re champions and we’ve got something about us. On our day we’re a good side.
“If we play like we did against Buckie I definitely feel we’ve still got a chance to win the league.
“Brechin are in a good position where we’d all like to be, but Andy MacAskill said before the game that Buckie were in a similar position to where we are last season and took it to the final game of the season.
“That shows anything can happen, this time last year there were probably one or two – I wasn’t one of them – who thought Buckie were out of it.
“We’re capable of going on a run like Buckie did. We might not do it, but we are capable of going on a run.
“We’re still behind in the league but there’s a long way to go.”
Broch make breakthrough
Playing against the wind in the first period Fraserburgh were defensively sound and carried a threat when they got forward.
Scott Barbour sent an early shot wide after skipping clear of Lewis MacKinnon, but the Broch striker made no mistake midway through the first period.
Barbour blocked Ryan Fyffe’s attempted clearance at the edge of the area and the ball broke perfectly for him to prod first time past goalkeeper Balint Demus.
On 26 minutes it could have been 2-0 when Lewis Davidson was clipped by Cohen Ramsay inside the box and referee Dan McFarlane pointed to the spot.
However, Demus made an excellent save down to his right to keep out Barbour’s penalty.
Cowie added: “We’ll maybe have to discuss penalties, but if Scott gives me that performance he can do what he wants.
“That’s more like him, he’s the best striker in the league in my opinion. Along with Sean Butcher he caused problems non-stop.”
The closest Buckie came in the first period was Andrew MacAskill’s inswinging corner which threatened to swirl into the net only for Kieran Simpson to head clear.
The Broch continued to look the more threatening after the interval. Jamie Beagrie fired narrowly wide from 20 yards while heroic Jags blocks thwarted Lewis Davidson and Beagrie in quick succession.
Sub Sam Urquhart was inches away from equalising for the Jags in the 70th with a first time shot from the edge of box.
But in the closing stages the Broch backline wasn’t put under a great deal of pressure.
It could have finished 2-0, but Demus made a superb save late on to turn away Davidson’s 20-yard free-kick.
Jags outfought
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart said: “I thought it was a poor game in terms of quality from both teams which was mainly down to conditions.
“The pitch was fine but it was blowing a gale which makes it hard for both teams and when it’s like that it becomes a battle.
“That probably suits Fraserburgh more than us and they deserved their win.
“If we’d managed to sneak a draw we’d have been happy, but overall they outbattled us.
“My guys gave everything, I’ve no issue with that, but physically Fraserburgh were a bit stronger than us.
“It’s a long season, last season we came back, Fraserburgh are back in it with this win and there’s going to be so many twists and turns.
“You look elsewhere – Forres are flying, Nairn are picking up, Formartine are looking good, Inverurie won on Saturday.
“There are loads of results that will come and go, we need to try to go on a run again and if we do that we’ll be there or thereabouts.”
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