Farquhar steals win for Academy in final seconds
Wick Academy 3 Rothes 2
Scorers - Wick: Weir (29) D Allan (39) Farquhar (90+5) Rothes: M Steven (43 OG) Presley (90+3)
ALAN Farquhar's header in the final seconds got Wick Academy out of jail as they robbed Rothes of a draw at Harmsworth Park.
The Speysiders, who have the worst defensive record in the SHFL, proved to be livelier than the hosts anticipated and could have taken the lead in the first 60 seconds.
Liam Forbes beat his marker and his shot crept under Michael Gray, but the goalkeeper was relieved to see the ball bounce back off the post into his arms.
The hosts sprung into life and created several chances to take the lead in the first 30 minutes.
Gary Weir thought he scored the opener when he beat the offside trap and managed to run round goalkeeper Craig Ferguson to leave him with an open goal.
But Michael Dunn managed to clear his shot off the line to keep the game goalless.
Minutes later, Sam Mackay also managed to round the goalkeeper and get a shot on goal, but in an exact repeat of the previous chance, Dunn once again cleared a goalbound shot from crossing the line.
Weir did manage to score before the half hour when he managed to capatilise on a rebound.
Davie Allan forced a fine save from Ferguson, but the goalkeeper could only parry the shot to the feet of the striker who made no mistake from 10 yards.
Allan then doubled Academy's lead 10 minutes later when he managed to run on to a perfectly weighted long ball from Grant Steven and shoot home from the edge of the box.
However the Speysiders did pull one back before half time in comical circumstances, when Callum McIntosh's cross from the right wing caused confusion in the defence.
In the six yard box, Michael Steven sliced his clearance while under pressure from Dunn and ended up putting the ball into his own net.
The visitors pulling one back before half time had an adverse effect on Academy who showed nerves in the second half.
Michael Steven's header from an Alan Hughes cross two minutes after the break flashed wide of the post, but was the home side's only real chance before a rollercoaster period of injury time.
Three minutes into injury time, the visitors dugout burst into celebration when they thought they had earned a deserved point.
From 40 yards out, Jack Presly unleashed a wonder strike which caught Gray off guard as the goalkeeper could only watch the ball sail over him and clip the underside of the post, but go over the line.