Finishing touches desert Scorries
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ROTHES 2 - 1 WICK ACADEMY
Scorers – Rothes: Sean McIntosh (11), Michael Fletcher (33). Wick: Davie Allan (39)
WICK Academy manager Davie Kirkwood said the only way to describe his team’s performance at the weekend was by comparing it to the second game of the season, when Academy made all the right moves but failed to pull the necessary punches.
“It was just like Lossiemouth all over again,” he said.
Both sides were out for three points at Mackessack Park on Saturday and were not afraid to show it. However, Kirkwood’s outfit failed to put the finishing touches to multiple opportunities, leaving Rothes with the three points.
“Again we probably dominated 75 to 80 per cent of the game but our decision-making wasn’t right and both of their goals we could have easily prevented. It was just the same as in the Lossiemouth game,” said Kirkwood.
“The disappointing thing is that in between the Lossie game and that game we beat Buckie and we beat Strathspey.” Rothes started the better of the two teams but Academy slowly settled into proceedings.
However just 11 minutes in the Speysiders found their first break of the match.
Matthew Fraser crossed from the left to Sean McIntosh who headed the ball in right next to the goaline.
Caught off-guard with the offensive, Academy started mounting their own attacks but kept getting caught offside.
A long ball from a Rothes free kick once again found a willing crown on the unmarked Michael Fletcher, who sent another header past Alan Bokas in the 33rd minute.
The Wick keeper redeemed himself shortly after by making a great save from another Rothes attack.
Then from the left wing Wick’s Gary Manson made a break for it, crossing low to the back post where David Allan got one back for the visitors by powering the ball home with six minutes remaining of the first half.
After the break Academy were determined to get the equaliser but Richard Macadie’s two attempts both ended up going wide.
Academy kept up the pace in the second half but the Rothes defence proved too much with attempts on target from Manson, Gary Weir, Allan and Macadie all being kept away by Ricky Horne and his defenders.
Kirkwood explained that he used a set-up to isolate certain key Rothes players but he felt that Academy’s inability to get passes at the right pace meant that interceptions killed their plays.
“We weren’t as fluid on Saturday with our passing,” he said. “The pitch could maybe have played a factor in that but we weren’t getting the edge we needed.”
The Scorries manager fielded the same starting 11 for the third game in a row but he revealed that in the weeks to come the club may be looking to identify new signings to “freshen” the squad up.
“The thing is the players need to be better than what we have got – there’s no point in bringing them otherwise,” he said. “We’ll look to get a variety of players in to give us something with a bit of a difference.”
Rothes manager Graham McBeath was delighted to make it 10 points from five games.
“We had to beat a very decent Wick side to get the points so we’re delighted,” he said. “I wouldn’t have said we were lucky but I think Wick passed up a few chances late on.”
He added: “When Wick got a goal back I asked a few tough questions and my young defence stood strong and we handled everything they could throw at us. We were fit enough to hit them in the break later in the game.”
The Rothes manager said they deliberately fielded Ian Macrae in a deep role, going from midfield to attack to isolate the threat of Sam Mackay, which seemed to work.
“The pleasing thing for me is that we didn’t crumble at 2-1,” he said. “We showed the same determination that we’ve been showing all season when the chips are down.
“We’ve seen a Rothes team with a bit of character so far this season.”
Academy’s next league match is against Deveronvale at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
Rothes: Horne, Bain, Bowie, Macrae, Fraser, Dunn, Fletcher (Forsyth 90), Fraser (Robertson 78), McIntosh, McKinstry, Massie. Subs not used: Gary Gallacher, Andrew Duff.
Academy: Bokas, Cunningham, Manson, Farquhar, Steven, Shearer (McKiddie 66), Gunn, Mackay, Weir, Macadie, D. Allan.
Subs not used: Ross, R. Allan, Sinclair, Budge.
Referee: Thomas Shaw.
