Fine margins are going against us, says Wick Academy assistant manager Michael Gray after draw with Deveronvale
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Assistant manager Michael Gray insisted none of Wick Academy's players could be faulted after they were denied a first win of the season by a spirited fightback from Deveronvale.
The Scorries looked to be on course for all three points in Saturday's Highland League clash at Harmsworth Park when well-worked goals by Davie Allan and Steven Anderson put them two up early in the second half. However, the visitors responded with unstoppable headers from Innes McKay and Rory Davidson and it ended 2-2.
It means five of the Scorries' seven league matches so far this term have ended in score draws, with defeats in the other two.
Academy manager Gary Manson watched the game from the main stand after his red card at Keith in midweek.
“We can't hide away from what has happened since the start of the season,” Gray said.
“I thought they approached the game really well. The shape was good, the intensity was good, we thoroughly deserved to be 2-0 up, maybe more.
“Unfortunately we succumbed to two cross balls and those were really their only two chances. I can't recall our goalkeeper having a save to make.
“It's probably a reflection of just where we are at the moment – we're not getting those breaks and the fine margins between success and failure are going against us.
“But I'm a lot more encouraged on the back of that performance.
“The length of time between our second goal and their first goal was maybe a bit critical as well. If we'd got a chance to relax into the game and enjoy that 2-0 lead then it might have been a different outcome.
“But these things are sent to try us, and try us they certainly did. But there are no failures today.
“Ryan Campbell was not playing in his natural position but he stuck to it manfully, the midfield did a great job and Steven Anderson led the line superbly and scored a superb goal. It was a team goal, as the first one was.
“They won the ball high and knocked it about and got their just rewards.”
Playing up the Harmsworth slope in the first half, Academy had the first effort on goal when Mark Macadie's snap-shot was held comfortably by keeper Sean McIntosh.
Deveronvale's Grant Noble and Sam Robertson linked up in a cross-field move that culminated in a deep cross to the back post. Davidson, arriving late, could only hook it over the bar.
Anderson carved out a decent chance when he cut in from the left but his shot was blocked by McIntosh's legs.
The Scorries came close again when Allan, charging up the right, squared the ball to Jack Henry whose firmly struck effort forced McIntosh into another instinctive save.
There was momentary danger after a Deveronvale corner and Wick keeper Graeme Williamson had to be on his toes to snatch the ball from the feet of Sam Robertson.
Allan and Anderson combined to create an opening for Sean Campbell. His strike from the edge of the box curled just wide after taking the slightest of deflections.
Academy continued to look the more dangerous team at the start of the second half. Alan Hughes played the ball into the penalty area and Anderson slipped it goalwards, only for James Connelly to produce a last-ditch clearance.
The opener came on 53 minutes after a swift attack in which Anderson and Henry combined to switch the ball from left to right into the path of Allan, who had time to control it before drilling a low shot past McIntosh.
Four minutes later Academy doubled their lead after another impressive move. Sean Campbell's superb pass picked out Ryan Campbell, and from his cross Anderson sent a brilliant flashing header beyond the keeper.
Academy seemed to be on their way to a morale-boosting win – but Vale had other ideas.
On the hour mark, from a free kick on the right, McKay rose highest to thump a header past Williamson.
With 10 minutes remaining, Vale got themselves level when Ross Aitken's cross from the right found Davidson. Williamson got his hands to the powerful header but couldn't keep it out.
Vale's Jamie Tinnock was sent off with five minutes to go after fouling Sean Campbell.
Deveronvale manager Craig Stewart praised the character of his players as they battled back for a share of the points at Harmsworth Park.
“I'm delighted with the character the lads have shown today,” Stewart said. “Once we went 2-0 down we controlled the game for the next half-hour until the end.
“I didn't think it was a sending off. Fair enough, the ref has seen it a different way.
“I thought he had his yellow card. I've asked him and I'm happy with his explanation.
“It's his view, and he has seen it different from me. I think the referee had a great game for 80 minutes and then he lost his way in the last 10.
“To be fair I thought it was quite an enjoyable game. It's not often I stand at the side and think 'that was a good game', but I did – there was not much between the sides, I would say. Both sides had chances.
“I'm happy with the point and disappointed with the point at the same time. We move on to next week.”
Stewart reckons the Highland League is providing plenty of entertainment so far this season.
“There seems to be plenty of goals on the go at the minute and a lot of close games, which is good for the neutral,” he said.
“There's maybe a top six or seven and then I think there's a thin line between the rest. Sometimes it's just about getting the breaks at the right time.”
Wick Academy: Williamson, Hughes, R Campbell, Sinclair, Hardwick, Halliday (MacNab 79), Henry, S Campbell, D Allan, S Anderson, M Macadie (Bain 86). Subs not used: J Anderson, C Farquhar, More.
Deveronvale: McIntosh, Aitken, Tinnock, Allan, Connelly, McKay, Robertson, Davidson, Ballard, Noble (Wallace 61), Jamieson. Subs not used: Stewart, Hay, Watson, Adams, Still.
Referee: Gordon Seago.
Fraserburgh retained top spot in the Highland League on Saturday after ending Inverurie Locos' unbeaten start to the campaign.
Two goals from Sean Butcher and a Paul Campbell penalty wrapped up a 3-0 success for Broch at Bellslea Park.
Second-placed Buckie came from behind to thump Formartine United 5-1.
Scott Lisle fired the Pitmedden side ahead but the Jags hit back before the break with goals from Kevin Fraser, Kyle MacLeod and Max Barry. Mark McLauchlan extended their lead and Callum Murray completed the scoring.
Rothes ended Huntly's unbeaten start with a 2-0 win at Christie Park after second-half goals by Alan Pollock and Greg Morrison.
Lee Fraser punished a goalkeeping error to give Forres Mechanics a 1-0 victory over Lossiemouth.
Champions Brora Rangers ran out 4-0 winners against Nairn County with Matthew Wright, Jordan MacRae, Gregor MacDonald and Dale Gillespie getting the goals.
Keith remain unbeaten under new boss Craig Ewen, and they made it back-to-back wins by beating Strathspey Thistle 2-0 in Grantown.
Przemyslaw Nawrocki opened the scoring five minutes before the break and Michael Selfridge got a second. The Strathy Jags had James McShane sent off.
Clach's good form continued with a 3-2 victory over Turriff United.
Brechin City's scheduled game against Fort William at Glebe Park was postponed because of a Covid outbreak within the Fort William squad.
Fixtures: Wednesday – North of Scotland Cup semi-finals: Brora Rangers v Lossiemouth; Strathspey Thistle v Rothes.
Friday, September 3 – Highland League: Fraserburgh v Huntly.
Saturday, September 4 – Highland League: Brechin City v Brora Rangers; Deveronvale v Strathspey Thistle; Inverurie Locos v Formartine United; Keith v Clachnacuddin; Nairn County v Forres Mechanics; Rothes v Wick Academy; Turriff United v Lossiemouth.
Meanwhile, Wick Academy will face new opponents in the first round of this season's Scottish Cup after being handed a home draw against Bo'ness United of the Lowland League.
Golspie Sutherland's reward for their preliminary round victory over Hawick Royal Albert United, from the East of Scotland League, is a home tie against Lowland League outfit Civil Service Strollers.
The North Caledonian League champions made the long trip to the Borders at the weekend and won 2-0 with Liam Bremner and Miller Mackay on the scoresheet.
First-round draw (ties to be played on Saturday, September 18): Banks O'Dee v Turriff United; Berwick Rangers v Gretna 2008; Blackburn United v Rothes; Brechin City v Vale of Leithen; Broomhill v Glasgow University; Caledonian Braves v University of Stirling; Clachnacuddin v Dunipace; Clydebank v Burntisland Shipyard or Dalkeith Thistle; Coldstream v East Kilbride; Cumbernauld Colts v Buckie Thistle; Deveronvale v Haddington Athletic; Dunbar United v Camelon; East Stirlingshire v Fort William; Formartine United v Cumnock; Forres Mechanics v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic; Fraserburgh v Sauchie Juniors; Golspie Sutherland v Civil Service Strollers; Huntly v Hill of Beath Hawthorn; Inverurie Locos v Jeanfield Swifts; Irvine Meadow v Auchinleck Talbot; Keith v Darvel; Lossiemouth v Preston Athletic; Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale v Edinburgh University; Nairn County v Strathspey Thistle; Newtongrange Star v Dalbeattie Star; Penicuik Athletic v Tranent Juniors; Spartans v Gala Fairydean Rovers; Tynecastle v Brora Rangers; Wick Academy v Bo'ness United; Wigtown and Bladnoch v St Cuthbert Wanderers.
