Academy looking for revenge
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WICK manager Davie Kirkwood is out for revenge as the Scorries gear up for their last three games of the season.
Early campaign defeats to Huntly, Lossiemouth and Rothes have haunted Academy as the results were among the side’s most disappointing.
Despite dominating the games at Christie Park, Grant Park and Mackessack Park, Wick lost by one goal each time. However, this poor early form gave way to a run of eight wins in 12 games during the winter – the side took some notable scalps including Nairn County, Forres Mechanics and Fraserburgh.
Now, Kirkwood wants his players to show why they have become unrecognisable from the team the sides faced last year and pick up maximum points – starting with Lossie tomorrow and continuing with Huntly on Monday.
"With the greatest of respect to all three sides, there is an element of revenge in each of these matches for us," he said.
"I look back at visiting these three teams where we played the better football but came away from nothing. This led to a poor start in the season, but we managed to recover and started to capitalise on our dominance.
"This is what I’m looking for on Saturday against Lossiemouth and two days later against Huntly."
Davie Allan, Stevie Cunningham and Gary Weir were all missing in Academy’s 2-2 draw against Keith last weekend but all are set to make a return to the starting line-up tomorrow.
Only Michael Steven is set to miss the match as he will be serving the last match of his suspension after he was sent off against Inverurie Locos last month. The target for the Caithness men is to finish ahead of Keith to qualify for the Scottish Challenge Cup next season, which would see them join Locos, along with 30 SFL clubs, in the tournament that begins in July.
"Playing in that tournament is certainly our main priority and we can ensure that by picking up maximum points," he said. "Keith have a tougher run-in than us as they have to play Forres, Deveronvale and Buckie with two of those matches away from home. Any Highland League club would love to play in that competition and to get a first or second-division club would be a big deal for us."
Meanwhile, Lossiemouth have had another successful season after managing to consolidate their fine form from their previous campaign.
Once a club that struggled at the foot of the table, manager Charlie Charlesworth has made great strides in the last few years to make Lossie a regular mid-table club. With Harmsworth Park the venue of their final game this season, the manager is looking for Lossie to confirm their status in the top half of the table.
"I think that both Wick and ourselves are two clubs that believe we should be higher up the table than we find ourselves," he said. "For the past five years, we have improved on our final position and I can’t ask for any more than that apart from aiming higher next season. It will be touch and go if we finish in the top nine as Wick, as always, will be a tough team to play against.
"We’re going to have a few main players missing for the trip... but the nucleus of the squad should be available."
