Buckie Thistle forward John McLeod is eager to end his pursuit of his 40th goal of the season in today’s Highland League game against Wick Academy at Victoria Park.
McLeod is the Highland League’s leading scorer but the Jags have only played once since his last goal in his side’s Breedon Highland League Cup defeat by Forres Mechanics on February 11.
Buckie take on Wick for the second time in seven days this afternoon and McLeod does not want the wait for his elusive next goal to drag on any longer.
He said: “I need to make up for missing some of the easy chances I’ve had recently. I had a couple of one-on-ones against Wick that I could have done better with.
“I got the 39th goal against Forres but we didn’t have another game for three or four weeks after that, so it feels like it has been forever. I need to get there.”
Graeme Stewart’s men hit back from behind to defeat Wick 2-1 at Harmsworth Park last weekend, with the result moving them top of the league on goal difference.
Although Buckie’s fate is in their own hands, Thurso-born forward McLeod is not taking anything for granted in the remaining seven games and he added: “I thought Wick played better with 10 men last week, they didn’t cause us too many problems before Steven Anderson’s red card.
“The teams will know how each is going to play, so I’d say that would make it harder but hopefully we can do it again.
“We’ve still got to play Fraserburgh, Formartine and Keith, so we have quite a few tricky games, but they are all teams we’ve beaten already this season.
“I would not think it will come down to goal difference, I imagine in the run in teams are going to drop points.
“We just have to try and win our last seven games to make sure it’s comfortable.”
Wick travel to Moray with a depleted squad, with Anderson suspended following his red card and Alan Farquhar, David Allan, Sam Mackay and Grant Steven also ruled out.
