It’s important that we stick together, says Wick Academy defender Owen Harrold
Owen Harrold insists he and his team-mates will be “doing everything they can” to bring about an improvement in Wick Academy’s fortunes in the second half of the Highland League campaign.
The 28-year-old defender, who was chosen as the supporters’ player of the year at the end of last season, has been on the casualty list since the first week of November after a thigh muscle “popped” in training.
In his absence the Scorries were knocked out of the Highland League Cup and have dropped to 15th in the table. They have lost their last five games in all competitions and haven’t picked up any points at Harmsworth Park since August.
Saturday’s scheduled home fixture against Turriff United was postponed because of surface water on the pitch.
Harrold is targeting a return to training by late December.
“We are getting there slowly and if all goes well over the next couple of weeks I’ll hopefully be back training before the end of the year,” he said.
“Andrew Henderson has been helping me with my recovery, which has been extremely helpful. It’s just important now that I build the muscles back up correctly and get myself back fit again.”
Five of Academy’s last six league defeats, home and away, have been by a single-goal margin.
“It has been tough for the lads,” Harrold admitted. “There’s nothing worse in football than when you have a bad run of results, especially when the scores are so tight and games don’t quite go your way.
“But I know for sure the boys will be doing everything they can to turn it around. We had a similar first half of the season last year and then went on to finish the season strongly.
“There’s no doubting the quality in the squad from some of the results we had at the start of the season. It’s just important now everyone sticks together and keeps fighting and the results will soon change.”
There was a double helping of shootout drama in the Highland League Cup as both quarter-final ties on Saturday were decided on penalties.
Huntly staged a remarkable comeback at home to Deveronvale. They were trailing 3-1 going into stoppage time before battling back to make it 3-3.
Harry Noble and Ben Hermiston put the Banff side two up at the break and Jack Mitchell added a third before the hour mark.
Angus Grant got Huntly back into it, and a Ryan Sewell strike on 90 minutes was followed by a Vale own goal in the second minute of time added on.
However, Academy’s conquerors missed out on a place in the last four as Vale went through 3-1 on penalties.
Brora Rangers beat Formartine United 3-1 on penalties at Dudgeon Park after Jordan MacRae’s late strike cancelled out a first-half free kick by Robert Ward for the visitors.
Banks O’ Dee had beaten Brechin City 3-0 in the other quarter-final on Friday night.
Buckie Thistle’s tie against Fraserburgh was postponed.
In the only Highland League fixture to beat the weather on Saturday, Clachnacuddin triumphed 5-1 against Lossiemouth at Grant Street Park. The result lifted the Lilywhites to sixth in the table.
Results – Highland League Cup, second round: Banks O’ Dee 3, Brechin City 0; Brora Rangers 1, Formartine United 1 (Brora won 3-1 on penalties); Huntly 3, Deveronvale 3 (Deveronvale won 3-1 on penalties) .
Highland League: Clachnacuddin 5, Lossiemouth 1.
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday, December 11: Brora Rangers v Clachnacuddin; Buckie Thistle v Inverurie Locos; Huntly v Fraserburgh.
Friday, December 13: Banks O’ Dee v Keith. Saturday, December 14: Brora Rangers v Forres Mechanics; Fraserburgh v Buckie Thistle; Huntly v Deveronvale; Inverurie Locos v Brechin City; Nairn County v Clachnacuddin; Rothes v Lossiemouth; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy; Turriff United v Formartine United.