Three goals in ten minutes at the beginning of the second half saw Buckie Thistle close the gap on league leaders Forres after being one goal down to Clachnacuddin. Chris Ross' first half goal was cancelled out by a Zander Sutherland strike and two from Martin Charlesworth before Brian MacLeod finished the scoring.
With temperatures of four degrees Graeme Stewart attempted to open the scoring for Buckie in the sixth minute. Paul Napier played a ball down the right channel which Clach keeper Steven Dunn came to clear. His clearance went as far as Stewart who to lob ball into the back of the net from 40 yards. Dunn managed to retreat and tip the ball over. The resulting corner from Zander Sutherland almost swung in to catch Dunn off guard again however he again tipped over to keep the Lillywhites level.
Ten minutes in and a Chris Ross corner was headed clear by Jamie Shewan to Brian McLeod who's volley went flying over from 20 yards. Eight minutes later Paul Napier whipped a cross to the box for Graeme Stewart to head over despite the shouts of an open Zander Sutherland behind him.
Halfway through the first half Paul Napier again tried to get another assist from a cross. His in swinging ball was headed over by Neil Davidson at the back post. The two linked up again just minutes after. Napier again played in Davidson who hit his shot just inside the box instantly to be palmed away by Dunn for another Buckie corner. Sutherland again took Buckie's corner and a melee of Clach players prevented Lewis Mackinnon from heading in the opener.
The first goal of the game went the Inverness side's way in the 26th minute. A Struan Scott-Woodhouse freekick from his own half reached the Buckie box where Sam Urquhart drove in before having his one on one with Darren Strong saved only for Chris Ross to convert the rebound into the open goals.
In the 34th minute a mix up between Hamish Munro and Graeme Stewart allowed Urquhart to step in and fire wide from 20 yards. Several minutes later another Sutherland cross for the Jags was met by Mackinnon whose header was blocked before Donnie Munro's shot was blocked and cleared by Clach.
Half Time Buckie Thistle 0 Clach 1
The second half begun and so did Buckie's comeback, the first two minutes into the second half. Jamie Shewan slipped in Donnie Munro who fired across the goal for Zander Sutherland to fire in at the near post at the back stick. Five minutes later Paul Napier almost got Buckie's second when his half volley from the edge of the box flying wide. The jags however didn't have long too wait.
Zander Sutherland was slipped in by Graeme Stewart down the left channel, despite suspicions' of offside, where on drove on and rifled across for Martin Charlesworth, to take his time, size up the goal and fire into the top corner from the penalty spot for his first goal of the entire season.
Christmas then came early for Charlesworth who grabbed his second in the same minute. His chip ball through for Donnie Munro was caught on the volley by the midfielder who forced Dunn to palm for Charlesworth, who had continued his run, to pass into the bottom corner past the attentions of Michael Finnis, who had been booked a minute previously for voicing his concerns over the apparent offside of Zander Sutherland.
Ten minutes after the Buckie double Clach pulled one back. Mark Dougall launched a freekick into the box from the halfway line where Chris Ross headed to Brian McLeod to volley into the top corner from ten yards.
Buckie then went close to adding a fourth. Neil Davidson was released down the left before pulling the ball back for Zander Sutherland to place wide at the front post. A minute later in the 70th Hamish Munro chipped in substitute Shawn Scott whose half volley was saved by Dunn before he fired wide the rebound from a tight angle.
The last chance of the game came seven minutes from time. Scott Graham played in substitute Neil MacDonald who turned at the edge of the box and fired at goal for Darren Strong to tip over. This sent the Jags fans home happy in the snow beginning to drift over Victoria Park.
Full Time: Buckie Thistle 3 Clachnacuddin 2
Reporter: Benjy Palmer