Academy's enforced winter break continues for another week
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Wick Academy's players must be having a wry smile to themselves when they hear that their much higher-paid counterparts in the top leagues in Scotland and England are wanting extended winter breaks.
After all, the weather has brought about an forced break and it is anybody's guess when it will end.
Last Saturday was to herald the dawn of a new era with management duo Gary Manson and Stewart Ross preparing to take charge of Academy for the first time since replacing Tom McKenna in the Scorries' dugout.
However, that turned out to be a damp squib as, on the morning of their scheduled Highland League fixture at home to Rothes, Harmsworth Park failed a pitch inspection.
Academy are scheduled to be in action this Saturday at home to Strathspey Thistle – rearranged after the original date had to be shelved due to bad weather.
If this weekend's game goes ahead, Academy will get their first taste of Highland League action since winning 2-0 at Lossiemouth on January 25.
Since then, home games against Nairn County, Huntly and now Rothes have all fallen victim to the elements. Throw in the fact that Academy, owing to the uneven number of teams in the league, had a "rest week'" a fortnight ago and it is clear that the Scorries are seriously lacking in game time.
The weather has also affected the county's North Caledonian League representatives, Thurso and Halkirk United.
They were due to meet in a local derby on Saturday only for that one to be postponed too. It means that neither club has been in competitive action since Saturday, February 1.
The game had been switched to Halkirk's Morrison Park from Thurso's temporary home – the all-weather pitch at Naver. The 4G surface is not well liked by the Vikings' management staff or indeed most of their squad, some of whom do not wish to play on it because of the risk of injury.
They will try again on Wednesday night – again at Morrison Park, with a 7pm kick-off – but, with sleet and rain forecast during the day, there is no guarantee the match will go ahead.
Also affected by the weather at the weekend were Academy's under-15 and under-17 teams.
Despite the Scorries' U15s booking the 4G at Naver for Sunday's scheduled match, high winds intervened to ensure there would be no chance of the fixture being fulfilled.
The U17s had been set to face Alness at Halkirk's Morrison Park. With the Anglers v Vikings derby on that pitch the day before being called off, a quick change of venue to Wick High School's all-weather surface was arranged.
However, the high winds also forced the U17s to reluctantly accept that no football would be played.
Highland League round-up
Brora Rangers will not be celebrating winning the Highland League quite yet, but it would take a brave man to bet against them after they delivered a knockout blow to title rivals Fraserburgh.
The Cattachs came back from going a goal behind to win 2-1 at Bellslea Park on Saturday to maintain their 11-point lead over second-placed Inverurie Locos, who have played one game more than Brora.
Fraserburgh have four games in hand on the leaders but, after Saturday's result, the Sutherland side would need to implode to let the Broch back in with a chance.
It had been looking promising for Fraserburgh three minutes into the second half when confusion in the Cattachs' defence allowed Sean Butcher to open the scoring.
However, their joy was short-lived as five minutes later Paul Brindle was brought down in the box and Dale Gillespie levelled from the spot. Brora snatched victory deep into injury time when Brindle beat the offside trap to coolly slot home the winner.
Locos kept up their slim hopes of catching Brora with a 3-1 victory at Keith. Michael Selfridge had given the home side a first-half lead only for Locos to rally after the break with Ryan Stott, Andy Hunter and Chris Angus netting for the visitors.
Huntly broke their 10-year jinx against Clach as they finally got the better of their Inverness-based bogey team in a 3-0 win at Christie Park. Logan Johnstone sent them on their way, with further strikes coming from Reece McKeown and Kai Ross.
In the basement battle, Lossiemouth leapfrogged Fort William with a 2-0 win at Grant Park to send the Lochaber side back to the bottom of the table. Kyle Willis and Liam Archibald scored in the second half to give Lossie their fourth win of the season.
The other matches were postponed due to the weather.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday: Brora Rangers v Formartine United; Buckie Thistle v Inverurie Locos; Forres Mechanics v Fraserburgh; Fort William v Huntly; Wick Academy v Strathspey Thistle.
