Victoria Park, Buckie Thistle
Buckie Thistle are Cove's main league challengers, after they prevented Cove winning 3 in a row. The thing I like about Buckie Thistle is the games are always highly competitive and they have a big travelling support. Their ground has one of the largest pitches if not the largest. The enclosure is one of the best because of it's size. The only thing I don't like about Victoria Park is the old Grandstand which isn't the most attractive stand you'll see. However I have attended 2 games at Victoria Park. A 2-0 win for Cove and a 2-1 win for Buckie. However I think the 2-1 win for Buckie was the better game as they were a better team than they were in the 2-0 defeat and so, the game was more competitive.
The first half was controlled by Buckie and they took a deserved 1-0 lead into the break through their main man Zander Sutherland. But we came out into the 2nd half and the run of play was with us. Soon Robbie Henderson scrambled home an equaliser and Cove were in control. But we couldn't find a winner and instead it was Buckie who got the crucial goal in the 80th minute through Martin Charlesworth. This goal was to prove the winner as Cove pressed and pressed but couldn't find the back of the net. It was then to be Buckie who went on to lift the Highland League Championship for the first time since 1958 and Cove went on to finish 2nd, trophyless, which was disappointing.
The good thing about this game was the incredible atmosphere made by both sets of fans but more so Buckie, especially when they got that 2nd goal. I think the fans must have known they had it won when Martin scored. I know I've got lots more great games to see at Victoria Park between Buckie Thistle and Cove and whatever the result, there will be goals!
