‘It was about gritting your teeth and trying to get through it’: Academy lose out in almost impossible conditions
A spectacular strike by Kyle Henderson proved too little, too late for Wick Academy as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Clachnacuddin in almost impossible conditions in midweek.
With a howling gale blowing across Harmsworth Park from the south-east, the team playing down the slope had an advantage of sorts – although both sets of players struggled for accuracy with passes and crosses.
Clach made the most of the elements by opening up a two-goal lead inside the first quarter with a Troy Cooper double.
His first came after eight minutes when he latched onto a loose ball and slammed it low into the net. With 17 minutes gone, Cooper created space for himself on the left and was able to pick his spot despite an attempted goal-line block by a Wick defender.
The visitors had a chance to extend their lead before half-time but Lewis Gallacher produced a brilliant save to deny James Anderson.
As expected, Academy were camped in Clach’s half for most of the second period. But they had to wait until three minutes into stoppage time to get a goal back when Henderson curled a magnificent long-range shot into the top corner.
Manager Gary Manson said: “First of all you take your hat off to the players for putting any kind of game on.
“It certainly was not a spectacle, it wasn’t one for the purists. It was about gritting your teeth and trying to just get through it.
“Both sets of players tried their very best. It was extremely difficult playing into that wind going up the hill.
“It was always going to be a scrappy game and we just didn’t test their goalkeeper enough when we had the wind.”
Ross Allan returned to the Academy line-up as a trialist.
“We were missing eight players,” Manson explained. “I could have thrown a 16-year-old in, but in those conditions it wouldn’t have been right.”
The Scorries, who picked up a creditable point in a 1-1 draw at Fraserburgh on Saturday, are 15th in the table. They are at home again on Saturday to 10th-placed Forres Mechanics, who won 4-3 when the teams met at Mosset Park in September.
“If you look at that game in isolation, it was fifty-fifty,” Manson recalled. “Either side could have won it.
“It’ll be a close game, I’m sure. We’re competing really well at the moment with the teams we’re coming up against, so I’m expecting the same on Saturday.”
Brora Rangers gained an advantage in the Highland League title race as, for the third successive round of fixtures, they picked up maximum points while second-placed Brechin City were held to a draw at home.
Shane Sutherland got a hat-trick as Brora hammered Strathspey Thistle 7-0 at Dudgeon Park, while Brechin had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Keith. Brora are now four points clear of City, who have a game in hand.
Forres Mechanics, who visit this weekend, won 3-2 at Rothes.
Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 1, Formartine United 0; Brechin City 1, Keith 1; Brora Rangers 7, Strathspey Thistle 0; Deveronvale 1, Fraserburgh 3; Rothes 2, Forres Mechanics 3; Wick Academy 1, Clachnacuddin 2.
Fixtures for Saturday, February 22: Banks O’ Dee v Clachnacuddin; Brora Rangers v Deveronvale; Fraserburgh v Lossiemouth; Huntly v Formartine United; Inverurie Locos v Keith; Rothes v Brechin City; Strathspey Thistle v Nairn County; Turriff United v Buckie Thistle; Wick Academy v Forres Mechanics (3pm).
Highland League bottom four: 15 Wick Academy (played 26, points 17, goal difference -40); 16 Lossiemouth (24, 16, goal difference -33); 17 Rothes (23, 10, goal difference -64); 18 Strathspey Thistle (21, 9, goal difference -53).