Kirkwood factor played part in Wick Academy defeat
The caretaker manager, who was been put in temporary charge of the squad after the departure of Davie Kirkwood, said the former manager’s absence had an effect on morale on the team bus.
Heading to play at The Haughs on Saturday, he said that the squad were determined not to let his impending move to Brora be a factor in the way they went about their business on the park.
But he admitted that the loss of Kirkwood has left a huge void to fill.
“The most disappointing aspect of the situation was that he didn’t come to tell the players that he was leaving,” said Hughes.
“In the dressing room, we tried to put it to the back of our minds and at times they seemed to be unsettled because of what’s happened.
“But they are a good bunch of lads who got on with the game and concentrated on trying to play football.”
Despite coming back from behind three times, Gary Harris’s winner 12 minutes from time was the difference in the seven-goal thriller.
Hughes said that the squad’s main strength is in their attack but that the defence needs to do their job as well.
“If we scored three goals away from home, we would have expected to win but they pipped us just like they did last year.
“We pulled ourselves back three times and the guys showed great character to get back in the game but defensive mistakes cost us dearly.
“What I was pleased about was that when they do go behind, they never give in and they are prepared to dig in and pull themselves back. We weren’t in the game at all in the first 25 minutes and it was just a case of keeping our cool and settling into the swing of things.”
He added: “Gary Weir has been behind Lukasz Geruzel in the pecking order but his attitude has always has been excellent and it’s nice to have a quality player like him to call upon and he proved that by scoring twice.”
Turriff United co-manager James Duthie said that, like Wick Academy, they are a side that can have problems in defence but was delighted that they were the team who had come out on top.
“Our players can be frustrating because they work so hard – they put so much into their games – but Wick kept going and it could have been 9-9 in the end.”
n LEAGUE champions Forres Mechanics lost for the second time in their opening four matches, going down 3-1 to Clach at Grant Street Park.
Martin Callum put the Lilywhites in front with a long-range effort on the stroke of half-time and he headed home his second of the afternoon eight minutes after the break.
Allan Pollock extended the lead with a spectacular effort on 69 minutes before Scott Lawrie pulled one back for the Can-Cans with a 77th minute penalty.
Cove Rangers were beaten for the first time this season as a last-gasp goal by Robbie Duncanson secured a 3-2 win for Nairn County at Station Park.
Jamie Beagrie’s opener for Cove was cancelled out by Mike Morrison and by half-time Nairn were in front courtesy of Dave Watson. Danny Milne got the visitors back on level terms but Duncanson struck in stoppage time to seal all three points for Nairn.
Cove currently share top spot with Clach on the 10-point mark, with the two sides due to meet this weekend at Allan Park.
Ex-Academy midfielder Gary Farquhar was the Fort William hero as the Lochaber outfit picked up their first point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw at Keith.
Jonathan Smith headed the Maroons in front after eight minutes, but they were unable to build on that early advantage and veteran Farquhar earned a share of the spoils when he fired a superb shot into the top corner of the net with 12 minutes to go.
Goals from Clark Bain, Andy Bagshaw and Steven Park gave Inverurie Locos a 3-0 victory over Strathspey Thistle in Grantown.
Kirkwood saw 10-man Brora win 3-1 against Lossiemouth at Grant Park. Steven Mackay, Gary Kerr and Richie Hart scored for the Sutherland side, who had Craig Campbell red-carded in the first half, with Scott McIntosh on the mark for Lossie.
Huntly and Buckie Thistle booked their places in round two of the Scottish Cup after winning their respective replays. Huntly beat Wigtown & Bladnoch 2-0 while Buckie eased to a 4-0 win against Rothes at Mackessack Park.
Huntly’s reward is a second-round tie at Inverurie, while the Jags are at home to Annan Athletic.