Academy forced to resit first round test after draw
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Scottish Cup First Round
Wick Academy 2 Stirling University 2
Scorers - Wick: Mackay (67) Steven (84) Stirling: Geddes (58) McCafferty (75)
WICK Academy will have to resit their Scottish Cup first round test after they drew against Stirling University at Harmsworth Park.
The Scorries were forced to come from behind twice in the second half to force a replay next Saturday.
The winners of next week's replay will face a trip to League Two Montrose in the second round.
The first half was a quiet affair with Academy's only real chance coming from a free kick after goalkeeper Kevin Walker was booked for handball outside his box.
Richard Macadie's free kick from 20 yards curled around the wall and went inches past the post.
The visitors had the best chance of the first half when David O'Brien's cross from the right wing found Chris Geddes who unchallenged from eight yards forced a great save from Sean McCarthy.
But the two university players linked up to to give them the lead in the 58th minute when O'Brien's cross from the right wing was not picked up by the Academy defence allowing Geddes to blast into the top left corner from 12 yards.
Academy drew level midway through the second half when Jack Halliday's long ball found Marc McGregor in the box who was bundled down by a Stirling defender.
The referee played advantage as substitute Sam Mackay fired a powerful shot past Walker from 12 yards.
But Stirling retook the lead when Paul McCafferty was allowed to fire a powerful low drive from the edge box which McCarthy was unable to stop.
Despite having the lead Stirling were unable to maintain their composure and went down to 10 men after Kevin Keane picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Sam Mackay.
Academy made the man advantage count when a long ball into the box was chested down by McGregor and he played it to Grant Steven who thundered the ball home from 12 yards.
The Scorries piled on the pressure and could have won the game in the final minutes.
McGregor saw his header from a Gary Manson free kick brilliantly saved by Walker who parried the ball out for a corner.
Steven Anderson had a chance to score right at the death from the resultant corner but he nodded the ball just wide.
The two teams will face each other in the replay next Saturday at the Falkirk Stadium.
