Buckie Thistle midfielder Andrew MacAskill admits they need to be more clinical if they are to finish second in the Highland League.
The Jags moved up to fourth in the table after a goalless draw with second-placed Inverurie Locos at Victoria Park.
However, MacAskill was disappointed they did not make more of their chances and said: “I felt we dominated and over the piece we had the better chances, particularly in the first half.
“In the second half we got in some good areas and didn’t make the most of half-chances.
“That’s maybe the difference between us and teams like Brora – they’ve had tight games they’ve managed to turn in their favour.
“We’ve had a couple and we’ve not been able to get that goal. It’s a weird one as we should be happy with the performance. We’ve played the team that was second in the league and dominated, but couldn’t find that winner.
“We know we’ve got games in hand. We’ve played fewer games than Locos, and Fraserburgh have played a similar amount to us, but we’re not going to make up ground by drawing games. We need to turn these tight games into wins.”
Playing with the wind in the first half, the home side were on top. Sam Urquhart stabbed wide from a Marcus Goodall cross and Locos keeper Andy Reid denied Kyle Macleod from a narrow angle in the early stages.
MacAskill was closest to breaking the deadlock in the first period, forcing Reid into a fine fingertip save with a strike from 20 yards.
Inverurie’s most threatening first-half attack was shortly before the interval when Kyle Gordon beat the offside trap, but shot straight at Jags keeper Daniel Bell.
After the break, Chris Angus fired wide on the turn after controlling Greg Mitchell’s cross and, at the other end, Mitchell cleared Jack Murray’s header off the line.
Steven Ross headed straight at Reid from a Kevin Fraser delivery on 77 minutes and, three minutes later, Ryan Stott sent Angus clear but the Inverurie forward’s effort was straight at Bell.
Locos defender Ryan Broadhurst said: “A point was the most we deserved. We did well to weather the storm playing into the wind first half.
“As a centre-back, I was happy going in at half-time 0-0 and thought we could control the game in the second half.
“Sadly we didn’t capitalise on the conditions and Buckie had a few more chances and probably deserved the points. As a back four and in the middle of the park we played well, but we needed more urgency up top.
“The strikers have pulled us defenders out of the mire this season so it’s about time we did the same. Coming away with a point and a clean sheet was positive, but there’s plenty for us to work on.”
