Injury time equaliser devastates Academy to force replay
Scottish Cup First Round
Wick Academy 2 Whitehill Welfare 2
Scorers - Wick: Weir (34) Anderson (90+3) Whitehill: Connelly (25) Martin (90+4)
FROM jubiliation to devastation. Wick Academy's rapturous celebrations taking the lead in the third minute of injury time were dashed 60 seconds later to deny them a place in the Scottish Cup second round.
Whitehill Welfare somehow rescued their cup hopes with a 94th minute equaliser to force a replay at Rosewell in seven days time.
In a physical encounter between both sides, Wick midfielder James Pickles was shown the yellow card after just three minutes for a reckless high tackle on Kevin Keane.
Just before that the home side had a golden chance to take the lead when Davie Allan's cross into the six yard box failed to find any of his teammates as Welfare were relieved to see the ball roll away from danger.
However it was the visitors who took the lead after 25 minutes. Callum Connelly unleashed a wonderstrike from 25 yards which rocketed into the top right hand corner of the net which Sean McCarthy had no chance of stopping.
The lead only lasted nine minutes thanks to Gary Weir who nodded home Danny Mackay's free kick into the net from close range for Academy's equaliser.
Weir could have given Academy the lead midway through the second half when he headed Allan's cross towards the bottom left hand corner of the net, but Bryan Young did well to save.
The Scorries fans were flying from the stands when they thought they won the game in injury time after Grant Campbell's inch perfect long ball from half-way found Steven Anderson in the box.
The striker held off left back Dale O'Hara to drive to the edge of the six yard box and thunder the ball past Young in the 93rd minute.
Despite the delight from the stands, Academy were to be denied a place in the second round when Welfare equalised.
After the defence's failure to clear the ball from the box, Anthony Muir was allowed to take a shot on goal from 15 yards which McCarthy saved.
But the rebound found Andrew Martin who was the first to react to his block and found the net from six yards.
The two teams will meet in the replay at Ferguson Park, Rosewell next Saturday.