Academy target three points against Keith after frustrating loss at Buckie
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Harmsworth Park hosts its first Highland League match of the 2022/23 campaign this Saturday and Wick Academy will be looking to move on from their last-gasp disappointment against Buckie Thistle by targeting three points against Keith.
The Scorries are hurting over the manner of their 2-1 defeat at Victoria Park, having taken the lead through Ryan Campbell at the midway point in the second half. Kyle MacLeod equalised before Kevin Fraser grabbed a stoppage-time winner for the Jags, last season’s runners-up.
Wick player/manager Gary Manson was convinced that the decisive goal was offside and he was sent off for remarks he made to referee Lee Robertson.
“Last week it was really frustrating because for large parts of the game it looked like we were going to get at least one point and possibly even three, which would have been a good start," Manson said.
"Certainly with the squad that we went down with, not many people would have given us much of a chance of getting anything out of the game.
“The way it happened, the manner of the goal in the last seconds, made it doubly frustrating. It looked offside to me.
“We just move on this week, and a home match against a team that finished below us last year is definitely one to target three points and get us moving in the league this season.
“That's one game gone with no points and you don't want that to linger. We will definitely be going all out for the three points this Saturday.”
Academy will again be under-strength. Mark Munro is rated “touch and go” after picking up a shoulder injury at Buckie, while Manson, who came on as a substitute, will be suspended.
However, Ross Allan is available again after his suspension.
"We'll be extremely short in numbers again this week but we'll have a competitive team on the park, there is no doubt about that," Manson said.
“We're waiting on others to see who is going to be available or not."
In last season's league matches between Academy and Keith, the Maroons were 2-0 winners at Kynoch Park in August, courtesy of two penalties, and the Scorries came out on top 3-2 at Harmsworth Park in January.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, July 30: Brora Rangers v Turriff United; Buckie Thistle v Fraserburgh; Deveronvale v Lossiemouth; Formartine United v Strathspey Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Brechin City; Huntly v Clachnacuddin; Inverurie Locos v Banks O' Dee; Nairn County v Rothes; Wick Academy v Keith.
