Jags loan has been Ritch-ly rewarding

Tom Ritchie is embracing the high stakes which come with playing at loan club Buckie Thistle in the Breedon Highland League.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper joined the Jags in February on loan from Aberdeen, where his contract runs until 2025.

Ritchie has now found himself in the mix of a title race with Buckie looking to secure the Highland League title – and the goalkeeper is relishing the pressure.

Buckie, who sit fourth with 55 points, host Inverurie Locos at Victoria Park today looking to close the gap on their top-of-thetable rivals.

Ritchie said: “This has been a different sort of challenge to what I am used to.

“I’ve not really been at a team that is expected to go win every week.

“I’ve loved it and I think it is the kind of situation you want to be in as a player. You want to have the pressure of winning every game and I love having that expectation on me.

“The team are feeling confident. We have had a few slip-ups and hopefully last Saturday against Lossiemouth was the last of them. Hopefully, we can just kick on now. It was a big win against Banks o’ Dee on Wednesday night.

“There can be highs and lows in football, but we know we’ve got a good group and we’re all desperate to go and win the league. Saturday against Inverurie will be a tough game but every game is tough.

“Every team wants to beat us but that is what happens when you’re one of the best teams in the league.”

Ritchie, who previously spent time on loan in the Highland League with Huntly and had a spell at Peterhead last season, felt it was vital to go out on loan again this term. The goalkeeper added: “Coming out on loan was what I wanted all season but with Aberdeen being in Europe I wasn’t able to get out on loan.

“When the Buckie opportunity came up I grasped the opportunity in a heartbeat. For me, it was all about coming here and getting to play games.

“I’m definitely noticing a big impact in my training now that I am playing games. I feel a lot sharper because there is nothing better than playing games.”

Meanwhile, Inverurie Locos boss Dean Donaldson wants his side to put their stamp on the game at Victoria Park as he believes all the pressure is on the title-chasing home side.

Locos are on a sevengame unbeaten run in all competitions, including wins in the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup which set up a clash with Buckie in the final on April 17.

Donaldson said: “We’re under no pressure. All the pressure will be on Buckie and they will come out wanting to win the game.

“For us, it is all about trying to progress and to keep improving. There has definitely been progress. There is no question about it, so we just need to go and put our own stamp on the game. We just have to play our own game like we have been doing over the last few weeks and we have been coming out with results.

“I’d like us to get out and test their backline. To get in behind them and create chances. We’ve got to do the right things in the right areas. The last few games we’ve been getting in the right areas, but our final ball or pass hasn’t always been there, so I want us to be a bit better in those kind of situations.”

Donaldson should have a full squad to pick from against Buckie, with Greg Mitchell back in contention.

BIG GAME EXPERIENCE: Tom Ritchie is soaking up the challenges of competing for honours with Buckie Thistle.