Bruce sliced a shot wide but Buckie soon launched another
raid down their left was halted by a foul 40 yards out. As Mike MacDonald
chipped the ball towards the goalmouth, Manson and Buckie forward Graeme
Stewart were jockeying for positon at the far corner of the box. Stewart fell
theatrically to the ground and much to the anger of the Wick dugout and nearby
spectators referee Graham Beaton awarded a spot kick. David MacRae hammered the
ball into the middle of the net and now two goals up Buckie were in cruise
control.
0 – 2
In the 31st minute after Alec Lamb was booked for
a foul near the halfway line, the free kick from Angus sailed through into the
arms of Bokas.
Wick rallied though when Sam Mackay raced forward and
slipped the ball to the feet of Weir there were six green and white shirted
defenders around the Wick striker. A high cross from the right by Ross deceived
Thistle keeper Kevin Main but Academy had nobody out left to take advantage. Five
minutes before the break Manson worked the ball up the left with Macadie whose
chip to the far post was headed wide by Mackay.
Half Time 0 – 2
Five minutes into the second half Mackay broke the visitors'
defensive stranglehold to race clear up the left. There were strong claims for
a penalty when he was tripped at the front corner of the area but Mr Beaton
decided that the first contact had been on the 18 yard line. Mackay steered the
free kick low towards Weir who was penalised when he tried to stab it away from
Hamish Munro's foot.
At the top end Bruce ran in from the left to wriggle his way
into the box but from a tight angle shot wide of the near post.
The home supporters were showing their annoyance that every
Wick challenge seemed to be penalised and were particularly irate at a free
kick awarded when Weir kicked the ball at knee height and Buckie player stooped
to try to head it. Skipper Martin Gunn was booked for his comments on this
incident but worse was to follow when Lamb's next tackle was judged a foul and
a second yellow card saw him get his marching orders. As players from both
sides jostled for position the Wick area awaiting the free kick, the referee
spotted a push by Shaun Sinclair and showed him the red card.
With Academy facing the last 35 minutes with just nine men
the game was now over as a contest. The final nail in the coffin came with a
cross from the left and a nod on from Bruce which set up an easy two yard tap
in for Charlesworth at the back post.
0 – 3
Buckie's Donnie Munro was booked for a crude challenge on
Allan but by now the game was very flat, the champions-to-be passing the ball
across midfield to the hurrahs of their jubilant fans, packed in and around the
South Stand.
Stevie Cunningham produced a brief moment of excitement when
he ran clear on the right and sent the ball low across to Macadie whose 15 yard
shot was saved by Main.
In the closing minutes Buckie sub Lewis MacKinnon went close
a couple of times seeing a low shot blocked and close range looping header
grabbed by Bokas.
The final whistle sparked a good-natured pitch invasion by
the Buckie fans who started their celebrations in earnest providing good
footage for the television cameras and a boisterous backdrop for the radio
interviews.
Full Time 0 – 3
Pictured receiving his award from Billy Sutherland on behalf of match sponsor Wick Seaforth Club
