The Saints, whose scheduled match against Maud was postponed, were 4-0 down to the Hoops at half time and eventually lost 5-1 to the Highland League outfit.

Scott said: "I took up a squad of 20 and they all got a game. There were one or two things that I needed to look at such as our new signing Grant Campbell playing in the middle of the park, while Michael Skene, who has just come back from a long term injury, got 45 minutes under his belt. It was a really worthwhile exercise against a very good team."

Scott said he was pleased with the way his players faced up to Gregg Carroll's side.

He said: "The main difference was the clinical finishing of Buckie but I thought we acquitted ourselves quite well. It was 4-0 at half time and to be fair we probably could have stopped two of the goals.

"They took off some of their players at half time but to hold them to 1-1 in the second half was pleasing. But it was more about getting game time into their legs and having a look at one or two things."

Full back Lewis Shand picked up a knee injury in the friendly and is now likely to miss this weekend's trip to face Stoneywood.

The Polo Park side are sitting second from bottom in the Superleague but Scott does not expect an easy match.

He added: "That will be a tricky one. We will probably go in as favourites but they have made a few decent signings over the Christmas period.

"They have spent a bit of money and got some good players in to make sure they stay in the Superleague. We can't be complacent and we have to do the right things. If we do that we should pick up the points but it won't be easy."