Anderson getting back to his best, says Wick manager Manson
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Wick Academy manager Gary Manson believes Steven Anderson is getting back to his best following his return to the club in the summer.
The 28-year-old forward scored the first goal of his second spell with the Scorries in last weekend's Highland League match against Deveronvale and led the line well throughout, although Academy had to settle for a share of the points.
Next up is a trip to take on Anderson's former club Rothes at Mackessack Park on Saturday.
Academy have drawn five of their seven league matches so far this season and lost the other two.
"We've been close to that win since the first game of the season," Manson said. "Apart from the Keith game [a 2-0 loss] we've either drawn or lost by one goal.
“The boys are playing well enough to win games. It's more mental now, I think – it's more a psychological thing.
“You could see it slightly when we scored that second goal on Saturday – we did start to drop back a bit which invited them onto us and invited balls into the box, and they ended up scoring from two headers.
“Performance-wise there's no doubt that a win is just around the corner.”
Anderson scored with a flashing header soon after Davie Allan had put Academy in front, but Vale battled back to tie it up at 2-2.
“Everybody got pass marks on Saturday, and for everybody to get pass marks and for us not to win is quite rare," Manson said.
"I thought Steven Anderson was looking back to his best. That's his first goal since he came back so hopefully that's him ready to kick on now.
“Both goals were really well worked and well finished.
"There were loads of positives to take from Saturday – I think Deveronvale only really had two chances in the game, and they were just crosses into the box."
The Speysiders have made an unbeaten start to their league campaign with three wins and three draws.
“Rothes have completely changed in the last two or three years," Manson said. "The money in the Highland League seems to go from team to team to team and right now it's Rothes that have an abundance of money.
“They've got a strong squad. It'll be a tough game. We know what we're going to get when we go down there.
"They've got some good players in their ranks. We'll be braced for a tough challenge, but there's no reason why we can't go down there and win.”
Meanwhile, Academy are looking forward to a home tie in the first round of the Scottish Cup on September 18 having been drawn against Bo'ness United of the Lowland League.
“They're mid-table in their league and they won in midweek [at Berwick] so they're no mugs," Manson said.
“I fully expect a tough test and they'll come up to Wick and fancy their chances, I'm sure. It'll be a good cup tie.”
Covid has led to the postponement of Saturday's match between Brechin City and Brora Rangers. The Highland League management committee said in a statement that Brora had "crossed the player unavailability threshold for Covid-19 positive test and self-isolation requirements".
Highland League fixtures – Friday: Fraserburgh v Huntly.
Saturday: Brechin City v Brora Rangers; Deveronvale v Strathspey Thistle; Inverurie Locos v Formartine United; Keith v Clachnacuddin; Nairn County v Forres Mechanics; Rothes v Wick Academy; Turriff United v Lossiemouth.
Gary Manson has revealed that watching a Wick Academy match from the main stand at Harmsworth Park was a new experience for him.
The manager was banned from the dugout for Saturday's home draw against Deveronvale following his red card at Keith the previous midweek, leaving assistant boss Michael Gray to take charge in the technical area.
Manson, who made his Academy debut as a 16-year-old in 2000 and is still part of the playing squad, said: “I've been at Wick for 20-odd years now and I don't think I've ever sat in the stand and watched a game.
“Obviously being the manager and not being on the touchline was a bit strange.
“It's not an ideal situation but you get a different perspective up in the stand. It's sometimes beneficial to watch a game from up there.”
Manson will be available again for Saturday's game at Rothes and could play. He will then miss the Fraserburgh home fixture the following week.
