Academy again lacking final touch as Formartine take the points
Manager Gary Manson admitted Wick Academy are struggling to make things happen in front of goal after they suffered a third consecutive loss in the Highland League.
The Scorries produced some neat and tidy build-up play in Saturday's home match against Formartine United but rarely looked like scoring and they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat.
Jonathan Smith struck twice for the visitors and Jonathan Crawford got the other.
"That game was pretty symptomatic of where we are at the moment,” Manson said. “It's just getting that final touch... a lot of neat passing moves until they get to a certain stage of the park and it breaks down.
"That was the main difference between the two teams.
"When they went forward, they went forward with conviction – it looked like something was going to happen. It's just something that's missing from us at the moment."
Jack Halliday replaced the injured Sean Campbell after 65 minutes but the only other outfield players on the Academy bench were untried teenagers Matthew Aitkenhead and Scott Durrand.
"You could lay all the excuses out if you wanted,” Manson said. “We were missing nine players today.
"You're looking at probably six regular first-team players that weren't available, and any team would struggle with that.
"It's not easy for the 11 on the park when we're having to ask two untried under-18 players to come and make up the numbers on the bench.
“It's not fair on them, it's not fair on the under-18s, it's not fair on the coaches... It's really hard just now.
"Like I say, I'm not trying to make excuses for getting beaten 3-0. The better team won, there's no doubt about that.
"It's just where we are at the moment in terms of squad depth. It just isn't there when boys are away and injured.
"It's not easy just now. We're struggling in the final third at the moment, I'm afraid."
Academy remain 14th in the table.
Formartine United had the upper hand on the first of their two visits to Harmsworth Park in the space of three weeks – but the Pitmedden side's manager Stuart Anderson won't be reading too much into Saturday's result ahead of the Highland League Cup preliminary round tie against Academy on October 29.
"Every game is different and Wick have got lots of talented players that can hurt you," Anderson said after his team's 3-0 league win at the weekend.
"We'll just take it one game at a time. We've got a Scottish Cup game next week [away to Carnoustie Panmure] and we'll take it from there."
Formartine took the lead after 21 minutes when Ross Allan was caught in possession and Jonathan Smith took full advantage as he stroked the ball past keeper Graeme Williamson.
Jonathan Crawford doubled their lead after 61 minutes when he got on the end of a low cross from the right and swept it into the net.
Smith rounded off the scoring when he slotted in his second of the afternoon with 10 minutes to go.
Anderson said: "We knew it would be a very difficult game coming up here. We're aware of their home record and they've got very good players throughout their team, so we're delighted to be going back down the road with three points."
The result kept the Pitmedden side in third place behind Brechin City and Buckie Thistle.
"It's early days,” Anderson said. “We just take every week as it comes and every challenge as it comes.
“We've got a really young team now so we're going to have bumps in the road, but our whole message is if we do have a bump we just go again."
Brechin City remain three points clear at the top of the Highland League after a comfortable 5-0 home victory over Keith on Saturday.
Second-placed Buckie Thistle won 4-2 at Rothes. Bottom club Strathspey Thistle lost again, this time 6-1 at home to Turriff.
Banks O'Dee have been expelled from this season's Scottish Cup over a player registration error.
Following an SFA hearing, Turriff United were reinstated and will travel to face Dunipace in the second round this Saturday.
A spokesperson for Turriff said: "While this is obviously not the route we would have chosen to take to make it to the second round, we welcome the opportunity to compete again in the competition."
Banks O' Dee chairman Brian Winton said: “Banks O’ Dee Football Club would like to apologise to our management team, playing staff and supporters for the registration error that has resulted in us exiting the Scottish Cup.
"Over the years Banks O' Dee FC have set high standards that we are very proud of. Unfortunately, our operating procedures failed on this occasion and resulted in a player not being properly registered to compete in the national competition.
"It was a genuine error. Steps have already been taken to ensure such an error never happens again.”
Results – Highland League:Brechin City 5, Keith 0; Banks O' Dee 1, Fraserburgh 1; Clachnacuddin 2, Lossiemouth 1; Forres Mechanics 4, Deveronvale 1; Inverurie Locos 0, Huntly 0; Nairn County 0, Brora Rangers 4; Rothes 2, Buckie Thistle 4; Strathspey Thistle 1, Turriff United 6; Wick Academy 0, Formartine United 3.
Fixtures for Saturday – Scottish Cup, round two (ties involving Highland League clubs): Brechin City v Stirling Albion; Buckie Thistle v Open Goal Broomhill; Carnoustie Panmure v Formartine United; Dunipace v Turriff United; Fraserburgh v Stranraer; Wick Academy v Benburb.
Highland League: Brora Rangers v Forres Mechanics; Deveronvale v Clachnacuddin; Inverurie Locos v Lossiemouth; Nairn County v Strathspey Thistle; Rothes v Keith.