Hughes wonder goal not enough for battling Academy
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A VALIANT effort from Wick Academy went unrewarded as they ended their Highland League season with a defeat.
The Scorries succumbed to a 2-1 defeat after a late winner from 10-man Formartine United who themselves clinched second spot in the league and gained a bye into the second round of next season’s Scottish Cup.
Alan Hughes’s superb long-range effort had cancelled out Graeme Rodger’s opener for the home side who by then had defender Jevan Anderson red-carded. But with four minutes left, the 10 men snatched a winner via Wayne Mackintosh’s close-range shot.
It was a bitter pill for Tom McKenna’s men to swallow – especially as they had dominated the second half and had earlier squandered a chance from the penalty spot when Steven Anderson saw his shot blocked by Kevin Main.
However, McKenna is proud of the way his side fought – more so given that at one stage last week they were struggling for numbers to put up a team.
“I’m very pleased at the way the lads gave a good account of themselves,” he said.
“We only had 12 fit players available to us for this one. I know the teamsheet says we had 13, but Sam Mackay couldn’t really play at all and was along to sit on the bench.
“We had Alan Farquhar and Davie Allan struggling to make it, but they did. The pair of them are only recently back from long-term injury and have played a lot of games in such a short time since they came back. Maybe in doing so it took a lot out of them given they’ve been out for so long.
“As for the game itself, I thought we looked tired against Cove Rangers the previous week but there was a new spring in the lads’ step and they played very well against a Formartine side that had something to play for.
“We had a great chance in the first half with the penalty. Ando was brought down in the box and we were expecting to see Richard Macadie take it.
“However, Ando decided he wanted to, and the lads seemed to sort it out among themselves to let him take it. Sadly he had his shot saved and Gary Manson hit the rebound over.
“We then went a goal down – to be fair to them it was a good strike. We had a lot of the ball in the second half and got our reward with a brilliant shot from Alan.
“You think then the momentum is with you – especially as by then they’re down to 10 men. But credit to Formartine, even with a man down they kept playing football and they got their winner late on.
“It was disappointing to lose, but if we can carry the same level of commitment and intensity that we displayed on Saturday into next season then it all bodes well for the club.”
