Dufftown and Buckie Rovers played out an entertaining first league match of the season at Westburn Park.

Co-managers Willie Duncan and Rab Mulheron made two changes to the side that started against Banchory on Saturday.  Alan Gray and Mark Sanderson coming in for Grant Darnley and Blair McDonald.

Dufftown started the match well and the movement and link-up play of front two Stuart Allan and Mark Sanderson was troubling for the visiting defence.  The pair combined well after 2 minutes when Allan hooked the ball across the box to Sanderson but the striker's header looped well over the bar.

Dufftown's next chance was to come after 9 minutes.  Defender Lee McGregor picked out midfielder Alan Gray with a great through ball but the newcomer lacked composure and blazed his shot wildly over the bar.

It was all Dufftown in the opening stages and the next chance was to come just a minute later.  This time Gray fed Sanderson on the Dufftown right and the striker's pinpoint cross was met by the head of Stuart Allan who saw his effort drift just wide of the far post.

Buckie created their first chance after 13 minutes.  Midfielders Paul Forbes and Kyle Rae combined well with Rae's low effort clipping the base of home 'keeper Martin Taylor's post before going behind for a goal-kick.

Striker Mark Sanderson was at the heart of all of Dufftown's good play and he almost gave his side the lead after 28 minutes.  Sanderson linked up well with midfielder Gary Spence and saw his powerful volley touched over the bar by Buckie 'keeper Steve Todd.

Buckie Rovers threatened again after 36 minutes.  Striker Kyle Stewart was just unable to stretch and get the desired connection with the ball after midfielder Gavin Smith had played the ball in behind the Dufftown defence.

Dufftown almost opened the scoring just two minutes before the break.  A fine ball into the Buckie box by midfielder Kevin Smith saw the ball break to Gary Spence the the midfielder somewhat dragged his shot at goal wide and the chance was gone.

The opening goal was to be delayed until right on the half-time whistle.  This time Gary Spence found some space in the Buckie box and crossed to Mark Sanderson who showed good composure to toe-poke the ball beyond visiting 'keeper Todd to the delight of the home fans.

Into the second half and the equaliser was to come for Buckie within two minutes.  First-half goal hero Sanderson was guilty of losing possession to midfielder Kyle Rae and his low cross into the Dufftown box was stroked home by Kyle Stewart.

Buckie almost took the lead after 57 minutes.  Dufftown defender Ian Cameron gave away a free-kick on the Buckie right.  The ball was played in by Kyle Rae to the unmarked Paul Robertson but the defender got his header all wrong and the ball sailed over Martin Taylor's crossbar.

Dufftown almost regained the lead just three minutes later.  Midfielder Alan Gray's cross caused confusion in the Buckie defence and the ball broke to Stuart Allan but the striker's volleyed effort clipped the edge of the post before going behind for a goal-kick.

Buckie then took the lead after 71 minutes.  A high ball into the Dufftown penalty area wasn't properly dealt with by the Dufftown defence and the ball broke to striker Scott Mair who made no mistake in smashing the ball beyond home 'keeper Taylor from close range.

Dufftown knew that they would have to up their level to get back into the game and that is exactly what they did.  A long throw-in from Mark Sanderson after 76 minutes caused confusion in the Buckie defence, the ball eventually breaking to Kevin Smith who saw his lobbed effort touched behind for a corner by Buckie 'keeper Todd.  From the resulting corner the ball again broke to Smith who saw his fine cross met by the head of Lee McGregor but the central defender's effort flew just past the post.

The equalising goal was delayed for just a minute more and it was that man Sanderson who was to be the creative force again.  His long thrown in was only partially cleared by the Rovers defence and there was defender Ian Cameron to nod the ball into the Buckie net off of the crossbar.

Dufftown then had 'keeper Martin Taylor to thank for an excellent save which kept his side in the match.  Midfielder Kyle Rae found space down the Buckie right and his low ball found Darren Stewart at the edge of the Dufftown box.  His low shot looked destined for the corner of the net until Taylor's fine diving save -  pushing the ball behind for a corner.

The final chance of the match was to come for Dufftown with just two minutes remaining.  Substitutes Daryl McGregor and Adam Irvine linked up well with Mark Sanderson before Irvine saw his long range effort fly just over the Buckie Rovers crossbar.

The final whistle went a short time later and Dufftown can feel disappointed that an inability to take their first half chances cost them their chance of winning this game, although given Buckie Rovers' second half performance, perhaps a draw was a fair result.