Far north derby sees Wick Academy trying to end long wait
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Wick Academy will be targeting a first Highland League victory over Brora Rangers in more than 11 years when the old rivals go head-to-head on Wednesday night.
The Scorries have won five and drawn three of the 11 league fixtures they've played at Harmsworth Park so far this season and manager Gary Manson hopes they can build on their decent home form in the first far north derby of 2023/24.
Academy last beat the Cattachs on league business in December 2012, when goals by Lukasz Geruzel (2) and Sam Mackay secured a 3-0 home win.
Brora, who drew 2-2 with second-placed Banks O' Dee at Spain Park on Saturday, are ninth in the table. Academy slipped one place to 15th after losing 3-1 away to Brechin City.
“We haven't beaten Brora for a long time," Manson acknowledged. "It's something that we should be aiming to do, but Brora are a very good side and we haven't beaten them for a long time for a reason – because they are such a good side.
“We'll set our stall out and we'll certainly try and get the win. We've got a decent home record this season so hopefully we can try to carry that on.
“It's a north derby under the lights on a Wednesday night so it's always something to look forward to.”
The squad will "go over a few things" at a light training session on Monday night.
Central defender Owen Harrold is set to miss out after picking up an injury in the first half at Glebe Park.
“Owen did a bit of damage to his knee so we'll see how he is this week but he will certainly be missing a few games, I would think," Manson said.
Billy Miller deputised in goal for Wick as Graeme Williamson was unavailable.
Academy went ahead after eight minutes with a fine strike by Gordon MacNab. Jack Halliday raced forward and linked up with Marc Macgregor before playing in MacNab, who smashed a first-time finish into the net.
Matthew Wright, who joined Brechin on loan from Ross County earlier this month, headed in the equaliser with 20 minutes gone.
With the score at 1-1, Academy were forced into a defensive change as Harrold was replaced by Owen Rendall.
Ewan Loudon scored Brechin's second with a near-post flick on 40 minutes, and two minutes later he fired in his second of the afternoon.
In the run-up to the match, Manson had urged his players to make sure they competed with the Highland League champions – and they responded with a spirited performance that offered "lots of positives".
The manager said: “We asked the boys before the game just to be competitive, make it a good game of football this time, because the last twice we've been down there it has been very one-sided.
“We asked them to let Brechin know they'd been in a game – and there's no question, they certainly knew they were in a game.
“We were right in the game until the very death. The two goals we conceded right before half-time put a damper on the first half, because we had done really well – we scored a good goal and we were quite comfortable in the game.
“Just certain moments let us down. To be going in 3-1 down was harsh on us, I thought.
“We probably had the better of the chances in the second half. I can't remember our goalkeeper making a save in the second half, which was pleasing and also slightly frustrating.
“We played well, but you don't get anything for playing well – you need to take points out of games. But there were lots of positives.
“We set our stall out to make us difficult to beat but also to cause them problems. We had two strikers, two right up top, and our aim was to cause them problems when we had the ball. We managed to do that.
“We possibly could have taken something out of the game if certain moments went our way rather than against us.
“We lost sloppy goals and if you do that against the top teams you're up against it.”
The result allowed Brechin to extend their lead to three points ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with Banks O' Dee on Tuesday night.
A penalty by Connor Bunce deep in stoppage time gave Clachnacuddin a surprising 3-2 victory over title hopefuls Buckie Thistle.
Plans for the game to go ahead at Lossiemouth were changed as Buckie’s own Victoria Park was declared playable.
Third-placed Fraserburgh had a 3-0 victory over Nairn County, while Formartine United were held to a 2-2 draw by Lossiemouth.
Keith leapfrogged Academy in the table with a 2-1 win against Rothes.
Angus Grant scored five times in a devastating 35-minute first-half burst in Huntly's 7-0 victory over Strathspey Thistle.
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 2, Brora Rangers 2; Brechin City 3, Wick Academy 1; Buckie Thistle 2, Clachnacuddin 3; Formartine United 2, Lossiemouth 2; Fraserburgh 3, Nairn County 0; Huntly 7, Strathspey Thistle 0; Inverurie Locos 1, Forres Mechanics 0; Keith 2, Rothes 1.
Highland League fixtures – Tuesday: Brechin City v Banks O' Dee. Wednesday: Buckie Thistle v Lossiemouth; Forres Mechanics v Huntly; Wick Academy v Brora Rangers (8pm).
