Gutsy display keeps Wick Academy's Scottish Cup run going
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Wick Academy produced a gutsy display to see off Benburb in their Scottish Cup second-round tie at rainswept Harmsworth Park.
Manager Gary Manson admitted “it wasn't a vintage performance” against the West of Scotland first division outfit who passed up a number of decent opportunities.
But the Scorries proved more clinical and well-taken goals by Sean Campbell and Gordon MacNab put them through to round three where they will be at home to League One team Falkirk.
“It certainly wasn't one that performance-wise will live long in the memory, but it's a cup tie at the end of the day,” Manson said after the 2-0 win on Saturday.
“The objective at the start of the game was to be in the hat for the next round and that's exactly what we are.
“The endeavour and the will to win shone out more than the quality today. The weather wasn't the best.
“It wasn't a vintage performance but a third-round tie is something to look forward to.
“I think what the game boiled down to was who had the quality when the good chances arrived.
“When we had the really good chances, we had the quality – Sean with a good finish, Gordie with a great finish. That was the difference in the game.”
It was Academy's fourth clean sheet of the season in all competitions, one more than they managed in the whole of the 2021/22 campaign.
Manson said: “It was never going to be a day where we were going to score six or seven goals, so we needed the boys to be brave in defence and defend their box really well, and that's what they did.
“Yes, Benburb did create a few chances, but every team is going to create chances. I thought we defended really well as a unit so I'm thoroughly delighted with that.”
There was a let-off for Academy after three minutes when Jack Purdue's cross from the right was headed firmly into the net by Aaron Black. However, it was ruled offside.
Declan McDonald was put clean through but he was denied by the legs of Wick keeper Graeme Williamson and Purdue couldn't capitalise on the rebound.
Academy opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Ross Allan delivered an inch-perfect cross from the left and Campbell slammed the ball low into the net.
At the other end, McDonald was set free again only to fire the ball wide of the far post and Black had an effort that went just over.
Academy had been living dangerously at times but they came agonisingly close to adding a second just before the break. Jack Halliday set off on a mesmerising run through the Benburb defence, and when the ball fell to Mark Macadie on the left his curling shot struck the far post.
Victory was assured after 83 minutes when MacNab received the ball in the centre of the penalty box and showed great composure as he controlled it and placed it beyond keeper Cammy Powell.
McDonald was shown the red card with two minutes remaining after a challenge on Sean Munro on the touchline.
In another late incident Lewis Lovering's boot came into contact with Williamson's head, leaving the Wick keeper with a nasty gash.
Wick Academy: Williamson, Hughes, R Allan, Anderson, S Munro, Halliday, S Campbell, Mackintosh (R Campbell 64), Hennem (MacNab 75) , R Macadie, M Macadie (C Farquhar 88). Subs not used: Manson, Aitkenhead, Durrand, More.
Benburb: Powell, Duncanson, McCrone, Bow, Docherty, Taylor (McTaggart 29), Purdue (Dawson 82), Livingston, McDonald, Black (McDermott 81), Lovering. Subs not used: Morgan, Logan.
Referee: Calum Haswell.
Gordon MacNab says it's a “good achievement” to reach the third round of the Scottish Cup – but he wants Wick Academy to progress even further in the competition.
The 28-year-old forward sealed victory for the Scorries in Saturday's 2-0 second-round victory over Benburb with a classy finish in the 83rd minute.
MacNab had come off the bench with a quarter of an hour to go and was still feeling the effects of an injury to his right knee.
“The defender sort of went by me so made it easier for me,” he said.
“Gaz [manager Gary Manson] told me before I went on, first and foremost try and see the game out, but try and get a goal to take a bit of pressure off us.
“It worked out well for us and we're into the next round. It's a good achievement so far but we're looking to go a bit further, get into the fourth round and hopefully get one of the big teams then.”
MacNab says he is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes as he looks to get over the injury.
“I'll just have to take my time and next week probably sit on the bench again and see how I feel,” he said.
Benburb coach Derek Rhoddan admitted the West of Scotland league side had been punished for a lack of quality in the final third after their Scottish Cup second-round exit at Harmsworth Park.
The Glasgow outfit had an early header ruled out for offside and went on to pass up a number of chances, but goals by Sean Campbell and Gordon MacNab – one in each half – secured Wick Academy's passage through to round three.
“It was hard speaking to the boys afterwards. They put everything into it,” Rhoddan said.
“At this level, if you keep missing chance after chance, then ultimately you're not going to win games.
“I think we had three one-on-ones, we had another couple of opportunities. I thought the boys worked extremely hard but the quality in the final third just wasn't good enough today.
“The one that was marginally offside, I've not seen it back yet. If that was given it's a different game, but I think we struggled in the final third for the full 90 minutes.
“Wick had two chances, one in the first half and one in the second half, and they scored both of them. That's the difference at this level.”
Benburb travelled up from Glasgow on Friday and stayed overnight in Thurso.
Rhoddan said: “It'll be a long, disappointing journey home. But that's what happens if you don't take your chances.”
Academy are one of a trio of Highland League clubs to reach the third round of the Scottish Cup, along with Formartine United and Fraserburgh.
Formartine were 2-1 winners away to Carnoustie Panmure, while Broch won by the same score at home to Stranraer.
Buckie Thistle were beaten 3-1 at home by Open Goal Broomhill. Brechin City went out on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Stirling Albion and Turriff lost 5-2 at Dunipace.
In the Highland League, Brora Rangers moved up to second in the table after a 4-1 victory over Forres Mechanics at Dudgeon Park.
Results – Scottish Cup, round two (ties involving Highland League clubs): Brechin City 2, Stirling Albion 2 (Stirling Albion won 8-7 on penalties); Buckie Thistle 1, Open Goal Broomhill 3; Carnoustie Panmure 1, Formartine United 2; Dunipace 5, Turriff United 2; Fraserburgh 2, Stranraer 1; Wick Academy 2, Benburb 0.
Highland League: Brora Rangers 4, Forres Mechanics 1; Deveronvale 3, Clachnacuddin 3; Inverurie Locos 3, Lossiemouth 2; Nairn County 4, Strathspey Thistle 2; Rothes 3, Keith 0.
Fixtures for Saturday – Highland League Cup, preliminary round: Strathspey Thistle v Lossiemouth; Wick Academy Formartine United.
Highland League: Brora Rangers v Inverurie Locos; Buckie Thistle v Forres Mechanics; Fraserburgh v Rothes; Keith v Nairn County; Turriff United v Brechin City.
