Derailed Scorries were gutted, admits McKenna
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"Gutted" was manager Tom McKenna's verdict after Wick Academy were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Inverurie Locos.
It was looking so good for the Scorries at Harlaw Park on Saturday as a Craig Gunn double put them in command and had some of the travelling fans wondering who Wick would pull out of the hat in round two.
As it happened, a trip to Rothes awaited the winners of this one – but it was Locos who went through thanks to a second-half hat-trick from Chris Angus.
So the quest for a good run in the national tournament is put on hold for another year.
"It was a classic game of two halves," McKenna said. "The lads were all gutted in the dressing room afterwards.
"They were really down, having put in so much only not to come back up the road with at worst a replay.
"At half-time, I told them the next goal would prove decisive. Had we got it then we could have seen the game out.
"However, it was Inverurie that got the goal and that seemed to inspire them. Don't get me wrong, we were expecting a reaction from them after the first half.
"But the way in which we conceded the goals was poor. They played to their strengths by launching high balls into the box and we didn't deal with them.
"Because of Grant Steven and Danny Mackay being unavailable, we had to move Sam Mackay into the centre of defence.
We were expecting a reaction from them after the first half.
"I'm not going to criticise him as he was playing out of position but we as a team should have been able to handle their long, high balls a lot better than we did.
"Having played so well in the first half, this result is a difficult one to take. I don't think the boys were complacent or could see the finishing line early.
"Give Locos their due. They played very well in the second half and were more clinical than we were after the half-time – not to mention their goalie pulled off a superb save late on to deny Craig his own hat-trick."
One of the positives that McKenna can draw upon is the resurgent form of striker Gunn, who seems to be more like his old self having rejoined the club 18 months ago.
McKenna added: "It seems as if Craig has got his 'mojo' back and we're chuffed for him.
"He had some criticism last year but he worked hard over the close season and he's a different player this season compared to a year ago.
"Craig's got his old sharpness back. He took his goals on Saturday very well and only a brilliant save stopped him getting a third."
