Invergordon North Cup tie could prove ‘extremely difficult’, warns Wick boss
Wick Academy will have to be at their best to beat North Caledonian League champions Invergordon in the first round of the North of Scotland Cup, manager Gary Manson believes.
The sides meet in the opening round of games in the north section on Wednesday night, with the prospect of an away tie against either Brora Rangers or Ross County for the winners.
Manson sees the visit of Gary Campbell’s men as an “extremely difficult” task.
“Games are coming thick and fast in August,” Manson said.
“It’ll be an extremely difficult game against a team who performed very well last season.
“We’ll need to be at our best if we are to progress to the next round.”
The teams were originally drawn to play at Invergordon but, owing to rules requiring a Scottish FA-approved floodlit ground, the game is being played at Harmsworth Park.
Invergordon began the defence of their North Caley title with a 2-0 win at Golspie on Saturday thanks to a double from new addition Ben Bruce.
The teams last met in the North of Scotland Cup in 2019, with Academy running out 5-2 winners. That followed a penalty shootout in 2017 when the Easter Ross side came out on top.
Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 1, Inverurie Locos 1; Brechin City 2, Huntly 1; Buckie Thistle 2, Wick Academy 2; Clachnacuddin 0, Fraserburgh 0; Deveronvale 3, Strathspey Thistle 2; Formartine United 2, Forres Mechanics 3; Keith 0, Turriff United 1; Lossiemouth 0, Brora Rangers 2; Nairn County 2, Rothes 3.
Fixtures – Wednesday, August 21 – North of Scotland Cup, first round: Brora Rangers v Ross County; Clachnacuddin v Strathspey Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Rothes; Fort William v Lossiemouth; Golspie Sutherland v Inverness Athletic; Halkirk United v St Duthus; Invergordon v Wick Academy (at Wick); Nairn County v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (all 8pm).
Saturday, August 24 – Highland League: Brora Rangers v Keith; Deveronvale v Buckie Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Lossiemouth; Fraserburgh v Banks O’ Dee; Huntly v Clachnacuddin; Rothes v Inverurie Locos; Strathspey Thistle v Formartine United; Turriff United v Nairn County; Wick Academy v Brechin City (all 3pm).