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Academy aim to make the most of home run


By Will Clark

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Academy manager Barry Wilson is looking for his side to continue their winning streak at home to secure one of the two HFL spots allocated for next year’s Ramsdens Cup.
Academy manager Barry Wilson is looking for his side to continue their winning streak at home to secure one of the two HFL spots allocated for next year’s Ramsdens Cup.

THE home run is in sight with Wick Academy having parked the bus in the garage for another season as the club prepares to complete its Highland League campaign at Harmsworth Park.

Saturday’s 3-1 win at Fraserburgh was the Scorries’ ninth on their travels, a club record. Despite the impressive sequence, losing seven away from home ultimately cost them any chance of landing their first championship.

Academy cannot finish any lower than fifth this season, which would equal the club’s best ever final position. But Barry Wilson said anything lower than third would be a disappointing outcome, believing second place is still possible.

"It was our ninth win away from home this season, but losing a few too many on our travels has led to us being out of the race," he said.

"Realistically to win a league, you can only lose five matches. There have been defeats at Clachnacuddin and Nairn which have been especially hard to take as we could have got something out of both those games.

"It is impressive scoring seven at Buckie and six at Keith, but there are games where we have to also grind out results to win points."

Wilson was pleased with Saturday’s second half comeback, which showed his players are determined to end the campaign on a high and qualify for the Ramsdens Challenge Cup.

"They scored a freak goal from over 40 yards when the player made the most of the wind on the Buchan coast," he said. "After talking to them at half-time, they came back in the second half. Lukasz Geruzel used his pace well to equalise and then slotted his spot-kick home well.

"Davie Allan then does what he does best by using his speed to get results. I have been telling him in training he should use it more by trying to run around goalkeepers, as nine times out of ten he gets the better of any outfield player, never mind the goalkeeper."

Fraserburgh manager Kris Hunter said his players fell asleep after

the interval, which cost them a match he believes they should have won.

He said: "The turning point came in the second half when we switched off for 10 minutes – we weren’t in any trouble until then.

"At the second goal, Ryan Christie was caught out and gave away a penalty kick to get himself sent off – at no point until then did I think we were going to lose."


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