Controversial yellow card adds to Academy's woes at Mosset Park
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Academy failed to break Forres Mechanics' 100 per cent home run this season when they lost 2-1 at Mosset Park.
A second-half goal from Stevie Cunningham kept the Scorries in the game, reducing their opponents' two-goal cushion, but they couldn't get the better of the Can-Cans.
The home side went ahead on 15 minutes when a low strike from Lee Fraser hit the net from 12 yards. The Forres lead was doubled in the 54th minute. A foul by Wick's Shaun Sinclair on Scott Moore resulted in a penalty. Simon Allan stepped forward and saw his low strike blocked by Allan Bokas, the away defence clearing for a Forres throw-in on the left. Allan’s long throw-in towards the penalty area was met by a header from Neil Whyte and the ball looped into the top right-hand corner.
Academy replied on 56 minutes. Gary Weir's low snapshot from a tight angle was parried by keeper Stuart Knight straight into the path of Cunningham, who made no mistake from close range.
However, the goal was little more than a consolation and Forres kept their lead to take the win.
The major talking point was a first-half decision which saw the Forres keeper stay on the park after a straight-red infringement.It came in the 23rd minute after Cunningham found himself clear on goal 30 yards out. His attempted lob over the advancing Knight appeared goal-bound when the keeper, well outside his penalty area, raised his hands to parry the ball.
Referee Doug Ross awarded a free kick to the visitors but to the disbelief of the Academy camp he then produced a yellow card for the keeper. Weir led the on-field protests and received a booking for dissent.
Read more on the game in Wednesday's Caithness Courier.
