Academy move into top half of Highland League as Anderson seals fourth win in five games
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Wick Academy moved into the top half of the Highland League on Saturday after recovering from a two-goal deficit to beat Clachnacuddin 3-2 in Inverness.
It was the Scorries' fourth win in their last five games and lifted them to ninth in the table.
Manager Gary Manson praised the battling qualities his team showed at Grant Street Park.
Goals from James Anderson and Robbie Thompson looked to have put the Lilywhites in a strong position but Gordon MacNab pulled one back shortly before the break and Academy went on to secure all three points after strikes from Mark Macadie and Steven Anderson.
Manson said: “In the first half we never got going at all. It was quite a poor performance, but we managed to sneak a goal.
“In the second half I couldn't have asked for any more from the boys. We scored two goals in the second half and probably could have scored another couple.
“Something that can never be levelled at this squad of players is a lack of character. Away to Huntly we came back from being 3-2 down to win the game in the last few minutes and we came back from 2-0 down on Saturday.
“These are tricky places to go. Clach away is never an easy game. To find ourselves 2-0 down and to still come back and win is commendable.
“In the second half they really dug in when they needed to, they played football when they needed to, and they took their chances.
“I have no complaints at all about the second half. It was a really good performance.”
Academy have had to contend with a succession of injuries this season and there was a further concern when teenage defender Joe Anderson took a painful knock.
“It was just a fifty-fifty challenge,” Manson said. “The two boys went in fully committed and wholehearted.
“Joe was feeling his left knee and was struggling to put a lot of weight on it but he'll hopefully be okay.”
Steven Anderson's winning goal against Clach was described as "a belter" by Wick Academy manager Gary Manson.
It came in the 72nd minute at Grant Street Park after the Scorries had got themselves back on level terms after trailing 2-0.
Danny Mackay swept the ball across to Andrew Hardwick and his long pass picked out Anderson, who instantly brought it under control before flashing a shot beyond Clach keeper Daniel Rae.
James Anderson had put the Lilywhites ahead on 23 minutes and the home side doubled their lead through Robbie Thompson with 41 minutes gone.
Gordon MacNab reduced the deficit just before half-time when he was played through in a central position and produced a composed finish to beat Rae at the keeper's left-hand side.
The equaliser came on 67 minutes after Alan Hughes delivered a deep cross from the right which was knocked against a post by Anderson. Mark Macadie seized on the rebound and calmly placed an angled shot high into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
After losing 6-0 at home to Inverurie Locos in early November, the Scorries have taken 12 points from a possible 15 in matches against Huntly, Forres Mechanics, Strathspey Thistle and Clach. The only blemish during that period was a home defeat to Formartine United.
“I said a few weeks ago that we were coming into a decent run of fixtures where we should be looking to pick up maximum points in every game," Manson said.
"We've certainly made a good start at that and we just need to keep up that momentum over the Christmas period. Then, after the turn of the year, we'll just try to keep on moving up the table.”
Clach manager Jordan MacDonald reckoned his side gave away sloppy goals but acknowledged that Academy were "the far better team" from the midway point of the second half.
“We were totally dominant for 40 minutes – I would say it’s some of the best stuff I’ve seen from us in a few weeks the way we were knocking it around,” MacDonald said.
“Wick couldn’t get near us, if I’m being honest, and I know they’re a good side with good players.
“I told myself that they would have a spell in the game where they came back into it – they had too many good players not to – and we gave away a really soft goal two minutes after we got our second.
“We came out and started the second half really well again before we gave away another sloppy goal. Then their third one was poor from us.
"To be perfectly honest, after 65 minutes Wick were the far better team. We didn’t create anything, and we didn’t look like we were going to create anything because we stopped passing the ball and moving.
“You’ve got to give Wick credit as well. They changed their shape and got in our face, but we’ve still got to be braver on the ball and do the right things, and we didn’t do that in the second half.”
Highland League results: Brechin City 4, Deveronvale 0; Clachnacuddin 2, Wick Academy 3; Lossiemouth 1, Huntly 4; Nairn County 3, Rothes 2.
Highland League fixtures for Monday, December 27: Deveronvale v Buckie Thistle; Formartine United v Brora Rangers; Forres Mechanics v Fort William; Fraserburgh v Nairn County; Huntly v Turriff United; Inverurie Locos v Keith; Rothes v Brechin City; Strathspey Thistle v Clachnacuddin; Wick Academy Lossiemouth.
