Late goal was a 'sucker punch' as Academy again have to settle for a share of the points
Manager Gary Manson admitted it was "a hard one to take" for Wick Academy as Clachnacuddin snatched a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
The Lilywhites led for just over an hour after Shaun Sutherland's early opener, but Academy turned things round with Manson netting from the penalty spot midway through the second half and substitute Davie Allan adding a second soon after.
The Scorries looked to have done enough to secure a victory in their first home game of the season, only to be punished with a couple of minutes to go when Clach's James Anderson took advantage of a ricochet at the edge of the box.
Following draws with Forres Mechanics and Strathspey Thistle, it is the first time Academy's opening three fixtures in a Highland League campaign have ended all square.
“I said to the boys that was a hard one to take," Manson said. "It was a warm day and the boys put in so much effort. We clawed it back to get 2-1 up, looked quite comfortable in the game, and then it was just a sucker punch at the end.
“It was tough to take but again we'll learn from it, take it on the chin, and we just need to go again next week.
“You've got to keep the back door closed as well. Once we got 2-1 up maybe we should have taken our foot off the gas a wee bit and just sat and taken the 2-1 win.
“It's one of those things. It was a freak goal as well. Young Joe [Anderson] tried to clear it, it bounced off one of their guys and fell perfectly for them.
Hopefully in the next few games we'll get the breaks on our side.”
Manson played from the start in his first competitive match since January 2020 and looked comfortable throughout.
The 37-year-old said: “It was fine, I quite enjoyed it. Obviously I would have enjoyed it more if we'd got the win.”
Clach manager Jordan MacDonald was delighted to see his players earn their first point of the season after James Anderson's late leveller at Harmsworth Park.
The Lilywhites had gone into the game in bottom spot after losing 5-0 away to Inverurie Locos and 5-2 at home to Huntly.
“It's not an easy place to come," MacDonald said. "It never has been for any teams, and Clach over the years have struggled up here.
“We needed to get something out of the game after last week [against Huntly]. We questioned the players a wee bit after last week and I can't question them this week.
“Did we get the ball down like we want to? No, you don't get to do that up here. So the heart and desire that the players showed, and the quality as well at times, was tremendous.
“We want to play. We didn't get to show that side today but what we did show was the other side of us. When it does get ugly, we'll mix it as well.
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3 / 3“Fair play to Wick – they get it down, they try to knock it about themselves, and they're good at it. The front three are a problem but I felt we dealt with it.
“Steven Anderson up front is always a threat, Gordon MacNab drifts into areas where defenders don't want to go, and their full-backs go beyond.
“We knew what we were coming up against today and we're delighted to go away with a point.”
Clach went ahead in the fifth minute after Academy failed to clear a ball into the box from Ross Logan on the right and Sutherland drilled it low into the net.
Academy were awarded a penalty after 28 minutes when Eachainn Miller was penalised for handball while challenging Steven Anderson. Gordon MacNab aimed his spot-kick low to the right of David Aitchison but the keeper dived to turn it round the post.
The home side kept pushing after the break. A flicked effort by Anderson floated wide after a chipped cross by Alan Farquhar, then a shot from distance by Faruquhar was tipped round by Aitchison.
The Scorries were awarded a second penalty on 65 minutes when Manson delivered a free kick into the box and MacNab was brought down by the keeper. Manson took responsibility and hammered it low into the net to Aitchison's left.
The goal was his 51st for Academy and it came 21 years and two days after he made his Highland League debut for the club.
Allan, returning from injury, came off the bench with 74 minutes gone and within two minutes he put Academy in front. He wriggled through on the left and drove a low shot past Aitchison, with the final touch coming off the backtracking Calum Black.
Academy were caught out at the top end with two minutes remaining when a clearance was charged down and fell kindly for James Anderson, who slotted an angled shot past Graeme Williamson.
Wick Academy: Williamson, S Campbell, Manson, Mackay (J Anderson 87), A Farquhar, Halliday, Henry, R Campbell, S Anderson, MacNab (Bain 87), M Macadie (D Allan 74). Subs not used: R Allan, C Farquhar, More.
Clachnacuddin: Aitchison, Mackintosh, Black, McRobert, Miller, Sutherland, Logan (L Mackenzie 80), Gillies, Anderson, Taylor (R Mackenzie 88), Morrison (Davison 67). Subs not used: McBride, Calder, Rae.
Referee: Gordon Seago.
A minute's silence was observed before kick-off in memory of three people closely associated with Wick Academy – Alan Guthrie Farquhar, who was head groundsman; Billy Farmer, a groundsman and a former player in the 1950s; and Grant Campbell, who played for Academy in their early seasons as a Highland League club.
It was also an opportunity to remember supporters who had passed away during the break from football.
Steven Mackay stood down from his post as Brora Rangers manager after the Highland League champions were thumped 6-2 at Fraserburgh on Saturday.
Assistant manager Craig Campbell will take temporary charge at Dudgeon Park until a permanent replacement is confirmed.
The Sutherland club released a statement which said: "It was with much regret that the club accepted the resignation and acknowledge the tremendous contribution that Steven made whilst at the helm."
Mackay wasn't the only managerial exit at the weekend as Keith parted company with their co-managers Andy Roddie and Tommy Wilson following a 10-0 thrashing at Buckie.
Keith's director of football Michael Brown has taken over as interim manager.
Wilson said: "We knew it was coming. It wasn’t an overnight decision to go – we’ve held on for a bit longer than I personally would have done but it has not been a snap decision.
"It was a shocking result but there were a lot of players missing and it was a young, young team.
"I’ve never been on the receiving end of a 10-0 in my career and it became difficult to deal with."
Buckie and Fraserburgh share top spot with Brechin City, who were 4-1 winners away to Deveronvale, all with maximum points from their opening three fixtures.
Inverurie and Huntly are two points behind after two wins and a draw each.
Keith's heavy loss leaves them at the foot of the table as one of three teams yet to register a point, the others being Fort William and Turriff United.
Highland League results: Buckie Thistle 10, Keith 0; Deveronvale 1, Brechin City 4; Formartine United 3, Fort William 0; Forres Mechanics 4, Strathspey Thistle 2; Fraserburgh 6, Brora Rangers 2; Huntly 2, Lossiemouth 1; Inverurie Locos 2, Turriff United 1; Rothes 2, Nairn County 2; Wick Academy 2, Clachnacuddin 2.