Buckie Ladies football team kick off Scottish Power Highlands and Islands League season in style with 8-0 victory at Clachnacuddin in opening match
Buckie Ladies football team kicked off their final season in the Highlands and Islands League in style.
A trip to Inverness Royal Academy to face Clachnacuddin resulted in a thumping 8-0 victory for Buckie.
Desperate to regain their league title after being pipped by Ross County last season, the team, managed by Eddie Wolecki Black, could not have hoped for a better beginning to the campaign. It was a case of second time lucky for Buckie, whose first game of the season would have originally seen them face the champions. However, the Dingwall side bowed out of the league at the last minute.
A hat-trick by Emily McAuslan, two for Lori Lappin and one each for Micki Munro and Honor Adam, plus an own goal earned Buckie their resounding success in the Highland capital.
The game marked Wolecki Black’s first competitive game in charge of the Highlands and Islands League Cup holders, with a tactical switch paying dividends for both McAuslan and the team.
He said: “I very pleased with the result and for Emily to get a hat-trick.
“She was playing in a new position for her, up top, and she took to it like a duck to water. It was clear in training that Emily has the ability to score goals if you get her in the right position and she’s worked very hard.
“Getting goals from across the team is also great to see. The subs all had a huge impact, either getting goals, like Lori, Mickie and Honor, or helping keep a clean sheet.”
Wolecki Black named McAuslan as his player of the Match for Buckie, not just for her debut hat-trick as an out-and-out striker but also her all-round work for the team.
He added: “Before the game I was just focused on getting the three points one way or another.
“To dominate the game like we did, score eight, keep a clean sheet and be sitting on the top of the league - well, you couldn’t ask for better.
“I’m new to this league so before today it was all a bit of an unknown for me. It was good to have a chance to gauge the standard.”
Six clubs will contest the division this season, and Buckie are set to move to the SWFL North League this August.
This Sunday will Buckie Ladies play their first home league game of the year when they welcome Orkney to Gordon Park, Portgordon. Follow Buckie Ladies’ Facebook for match details and kick-off time.