Buckie fail to make numbers count as Broch grab a draw

Fraserburgh claimed a Highland League point against Buckie despite playing the entire second half with 10 men at Victoria Park last night.

Allan Hale cancelled out Martin Charlesworth's first-half strike as the away side maintained its four-month unbeaten record in the league.

Fraserburgh midfielder Steven Main was sent off just before half-time

Buckie almost opened the scoring after nine minutes when Robbie Brown's header hit the base of the post from Robert Duncan's corner. Six minutes later Broch keeper Paul Leask blocked Ian Murray's shot after a move involving David MacRae and Graeme Stewart.

Charlesworth was then thwarted by Leask after Brown played in the former Elgin City forward.

It took Fraserburgh 28 minutes to register their first shot on target, Graham Johnston's long range free kick testing Buckie goalkeeper Kevin Main after Lewis MacKinnon had been booked for handling the ball.

The Victoria Park side made the breakthrough nine minutes before half-time when Brown's pass found Murray on the right and he crossed for Charlesworth to tap home.

Charlesworth curled a shot wide as the first half faded and Broch were reduced to 10 men when Steven Main was booked twice in two minutes by referee Michael McNab, the first for the dissent and the second for throwing the ball away.

Buckie continued to find a way through the Broch defence after the break. Brown sent Charlesworth clear but Leask did well to block the attacker's goal-bound shot.

The referee booked four Fraserburgh players in the space of 18 second-half minutes. Jamie Beagrie, Paul Napier, Jonathan Garden and Johnston were all issued yellow cards before they managed to force their way back into the game.

Johnston broke down the left and Hale stroked past Main via the goalkeeper's left-hand post on 69 minutes.

Hale was then given time and space in the penalty area but could not trouble Main.