Errors prove costly again for Academy
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TOM McKenna feels his Wick Academy players deserve the "rub of the green" in order to kick-start their season after Saturday's 5-2 loss to Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park.
The Academy manager was left puzzled as on-form Buckie made it four wins on the trot.
McKenna said: "I thought it was an evenly balanced game, but we made a few errors and they capitalised on them. I felt sorry for the lads – they worked really hard. It was an honest performance, but we made it difficult for ourselves."
He added: "When we were 3-0 down at half-time I just said to the players to try and minimise the mistakes and continue in the same vein. I couldn't fault them for effort – the players worked tremendously hard and played some good football at times.
"The lads just need a bit of luck at the moment – a rub of the green so they can turn the corner."
McKenna even received some sympathy from his counterpart, Graeme Stewart. "The Buckie manager said after the match he couldn't believe we came away with nothing after playing so well," McKenna said. "It is testament to the lads' work ethic."
He added: "It is a trying time for everyone. But after seeing the effort and the body language of the lads I don't see anyone giving up. There is still a good atmosphere amongst the players."
Buckie got off to a flyer with a Sam Robertson goal after just four minutes.
Academy had a penalty claim turned down shortly afterwards which saw Marc Macgregor booked for simulation.
But the home side went 2-0 up in the 20th minute through Callum Murray. Buckie added a third goal just before the break with Steven Ross on target.
Academy got back in contention in the 48th minute when Jack Halliday knocked in a Macgregor assist. The visitors looked the more likely to score at this stage but they were hit by two late goals from Declan Milne and Robertson to put the outcome beyond doubt.
A superbly struck free-kick by Craig Gunn in the final minute, which nestled in the top corner of the net, proved a mere consolation.
Buckie's Graeme Stewart said: "We were really happy with the performance. Wick are a good team and they played well. We only had five or six chances and scored most of them."
He added: "I was disappointed with the two goals we conceded which came from our mistakes."
Buckie Thistle: Bell, MacKinnon, Morrison, Adams, Cheyne (Skinner 63), MacAskill, Ross (Copeland 85), Murray, Robertson, Milne (Davidson 85), MacKenzie. Subs not used: Bruce, Herbert.
Wick Academy: McCarthy, Gunn, G Steven, Manson (MacNab 67), Farquhar, D Mackay, Henry, Halliday, Macgregor, Macadie, Allan. Subs not used: Aitkenhead, G MacKay, Clark.
