Dlugosz strike settles drab affair as Wick Academy suffer home defeat
Wick Academy’s hopes of prolonging their 100 per cent home record in the Highland League were ended by a “goal out of nowhere” on Saturday.
Deveronvale’s Olek Dlugosz hit an unstoppable strike from the edge of the box after 57 minutes and that proved decisive in what the Scorries’ manager Gary Manson described as a drab affair.
“It was quite a poor game overall,” Manson said in a blunt assessment. “There was very little goalmouth action for either team.
“If you were watching you’d have just thought it was going to play out to be a 0-0 draw. Neither team was creating an abundance of chances, but their goal came right out of the blue – it was a goal out of nowhere.
“It was a brilliant goal and it was fit to win any game, I suppose. But it was just a tight, drab, boring affair, to be honest.
“It wasn’t a great spectacle. Both teams were putting enough effort and work in but it was just breaking down for both teams in front of goal.”
Academy had begun the 2024/25 campaign with back-to-back home victories, against Fraserburgh (2-0) and Strathspey Thistle (2-1), either side of a 3-0 defeat at Huntly.
“If we were sitting on nine points after four games it would have reflected a really good start for us, but it wasn’t to be,” Manson said.
“We created two really good chances over the piece and missed both of them. It wasn’t to be for us on the day.”
Academy have a tough-looking assignment this Saturday as they travel to Victoria Park to take on league champions Buckie Thistle. It will be Academy’s first encounter with the Jags since Lewis MacKinnon took over as manager from previous boss Graeme Stewart.
Brora Rangers continued their commanding start to the 2024/25 Highland League season with a 6-2 victory over Formartine United to consolidate top spot in the table.
The Cattachs have been prolific up front in the opening weeks, with their latest win taking them to 22 goals in just four matches.
Tom Kelly, Colin Williamson, Mark Nicolson, Craig Mackenzie, Max Ewan and Jordan MacRae were on the mark for Brora. Johnny Crawford Scott Adams scored for Formartine, who had Matty McLean sent off just before half-time.
Brechin City dropped their first points of the season as they played out a goalless draw with Fraserburgh.
After a strong start to the season, Huntly lost their first game as they went down at home to Buckie Thistle. Jack MacIver scored the only goal from the penalty spot.
Forres Mechanics hit six against Strathspey Thistle, who are now the only team in the division yet to win a match this season.
Turriff United moved into the top six with a 1-0 victory over Lossiemouth. Reece McKeown got the goal in stoppage time.
Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 4, Nairn County 0; Brora Rangers 6, Formartine United 2; Fraserburgh 0, Brechin City 0; Huntly 0, Buckie Thistle 1; Inverurie Locos 2, Clachnacuddin 0; Rothes 0, Keith 1; Strathspey Thistle 1, Forres Mechanics 6; Turriff United 1, Lossiemouth 0; Wick Academy 0, Deveronvale 1.
Fixtures – Friday, August 16: Nairn County v Rothes (8pm). Saturday, August 17: Banks O’ Dee v Inverurie Locos; Brechin City v Huntly; Buckie Thistle v Wick Academy; Clachnacuddin v Fraserburgh; Deveronvale v Strathspey Thistle; Formartine United v Forres Mechanics; Keith v Turriff United; Lossiemouth v Brora Rangers (all 3pm).
