Last-gasp loss at Buckie was 'like a punch to the stomach' for Wick Academy
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Player/manager Gary Manson admitted that Wick Academy's last-gasp defeat to Buckie Thistle on the opening day of the Highland League season "felt like a punch to the stomach".
But he insisted the Scorries' performance in the 2-1 loss at Victoria Park on Saturday showed that they are "not far away" from the leading teams.
Ryan Campbell had put Academy ahead after 66 minutes after being teed up by Jack Halliday following a counter-attack. But the Jags – league runners-up last term – levelled two minutes later through Kyle MacLeod, and Kevin Fraser prodded home the winner following a goalmouth scramble in the second minute of stoppage time.
Manson, who was convinced Fraser's goal was offside, was sent off for remarks he made to referee Lee Robertson.
"It was so close to being a good result and a good start," Manson said.
"The first half was good – we probably should have gone in 1-0 up. Mark Munro had a really good chance, one-on-one with the goalie, and missed it. It broke to Jack Halliday and he could have scored as well.
"Our shape and our organisation was really good all game. We were hard to break down and we didn't really give them too many chances. We hit them on the counter-attack and scored a really good goal.
"It was a shame we didn't hold onto the lead a bit longer – it might have changed the outcome of the game. Then, with more or less the last kick of the ball, they scored.
"I'll need to watch the video back but I'm almost certain it was offside. From speaking to people at the game, after the final whistle, everyone thought it was offside as well.
"Outwith the changing room, not many people gave us a chance. We went down there with a really short squad again.
"Once summer football finishes, we'll have a bit of strength in depth and options to come off the bench. That'll make a big difference."
Manson insisted he hadn't been "out of order" when challenging the decision by referee Lee Robertson to allow Buckie Thistle's stoppage-time winner to stand.
"I probably shouldn't have said anything to the ref but I wasn't being aggressive, I wasn't being out of order, I don't think," the Wick player/manager said.
"I just questioned the validity of the goal and he took exception to it and showed me a yellow card, and then a red card about a second after it. I questioned it, and I think I said it was a disgrace or something.
"Whether he thought it was foul and abusive language or whatever, I don't know, but I certainly wasn't being aggressive towards him."
Saturday's fixture came just over three months after an under-strength Academy side earned a 1-1 midweek draw at Victoria Park during the closing weeks of the 2021/22 campaign.
"It just shows that we're not far away," Manson said. "That's twice in quick succession we've gone down to Buckie reasonably short in personnel and put in a very good performance.
"We were getting plaudits from everyone that was at the game – they could see how fit we were, how organised we were, how energetic we were.
"You could see that we were probably stronger physically and fitter than them. We were showing a will to put our bodies on the line when it was needed.
"It was a really good all-round performance and it's just a shame that we've got nothing to show for it. But it does show that we're not far away from the top teams – we showed that we can compete with any team in the league.
"As long as we continue to show that same level of application and endeavour and quality then we'll probably have a good season, I would think.
"I want a team full of energy, full of running, getting bodies forward, and then on the flip side when you lose the ball you have to be organised and keep your shape.
"It bodes well for the rest of the season. We've got Keith at home on Saturday. We'll just need to make sure we get three points and build on it from that.
"Hopefully we'll have a stronger squad. We'll have Ross Allan back from suspension and the boys that were involved in the [Eain Mackintosh] cup final on Saturday will be with us this week as well.
"If we show the same sort of attitude and appetite to work hard and show the same quality as we did on Saturday then hopefully we'll get some points on the board.
"It shows that we're on the right track – we're not far away from the top teams."
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Graeme Williamson has signed a new two-year contract at Harmsworth Park.
Buckie manager Graeme Stewart said his team had shown character to come from behind and get the better of Wick Academy in Saturday's opening Highland League fixture at Victoria Park.
Ryan Campbell put the Scorries ahead midway through the second half, but substitute Kyle MacLeod levelled soon after and Kevin Fraser grabbed an injury-time winner for last season's runners-up.
Stewart was pleased with his side's fighting spirit but admitted that he wasn't happy with their performance.
"We didn't play well," he said. "We can make some excuses with injuries and boys playing a lot of games because we looked a wee bit leggy, especially in the second half, but it wasn't good enough.
"We showed character to come back from 1-0. They're a good team, so to come back speaks volumes for my team and that's what we'll focus on – not the negative stuff.
"We had five or six good chances and on another day we would take three or four of them.
"We had to win. We have things we need to work on but we'll do that."
History was made at Spain Park in Aberdeen on Saturday with Banks O' Dee playing their first Highland League match. Nairn County were the visitors.
Kane Winton netted Dee's first goal in the league before Liam Shewan's equaliser rescued a point for Nairn.
Champions Fraserburgh had a comfortable 3-0 home win against Deveronvale with goals from Sean Butcher, Ryan Sargent and Scott Barbour.
Two goals either side of half-time helped Brora Rangers overcome Keith's resistance at Kynoch Park.
Dale Gillespie netted a penalty just before the break and Jordan MacRae added the second. Andy Macrae's double sealed a 4-0 win for Brora, with Gillespie also seeing a second spot-kick saved by keeper Craig Reid.
Forres Mechanics netted four without reply at Strathspey Thistle despite having Callum Johnston sent off in the first half.
By then they were two up through Callum Murray's early double, and the former Buckie man went on to complete a hat-trick on his debut with Ben Barron also on the scoresheet.
Lossiemouth made a bad start against Formartine United, going 3-0 down inside 36 minutes through strikes by Mark Gallagher, Scott Lisle and Julian Wade. The Coasters got one back through Martin Charlesworth and could have got a second before the break but Ross Elliott's penalty went over.
With no scoring in the second half, it finished 3-1 to Formartine.
Turriff United came from behind to defeat Huntly 2-1 thanks to Aaron Reid's first-half double. The visitors led through an own goal by James Chalmers.
Turriff had Liam Cheyne red carded and Huntly's Andy Hunter missed a penalty.
A first-half strike by Cammie Ross was enough to give Brechin City a 1-0 win over Rothes, who had Gregg Main sent off late on.
Clach's match at home to Inverurie was delayed for 30 minutes in the second half following a head injury sustained by Locos' Nathan Meres.
The player was taken to hospital with concussion but was reported to have made a recovery after the game.
Locos won 3-1 with goals from Callum Dingwall, Lloyd Robertson and Rob Ward. Donald Morrison got a late consolation for Clach.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday: Brora Rangers v Turriff United; Buckie Thistle v Fraserburgh; Deveronvale v Lossiemouth; Formartine United v Strathspey Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Brechin City; Huntly v Clachnacuddin; Inverurie Locos v Banks O' Dee; Nairn County v Rothes; Wick Academy v Keith.
