‘Let’s make Harmsworth a fortress’ says Wick boss
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WICK Academy’s Davie Kirkwood faces a tough dilemma this weekend – who should stay and who should go?
After a resounding 2-0 victory over Formartine United last Saturday the manager is trying to decide whether or not to change the team that broke the club’s four-game losing streak.
The question is weighing heavy on Kirkwood’s mind ahead of welcoming Highland League heavyweights Nairn County to Harmsworth Park tomorrow.
“We had a great performance and a great win at the weekend so I’m hoping Nairn won’t relish the trip up,” he said. “It’s made it a bit of a headache for the weekend though as I’ve got players returning so I’m thinking, ‘do I change the squad or not?’
“There will be one or two disappointments this week I’m sure – either by putting people out or not putting people in the squad.”
Returning to the fold and available for selection for the 3pm kick-off is forward Gary Weir and central midfielders Bryan McKiddie and Alan Farquhar.
Key defender Michael Steven will remain on the sidelines as he is still serving his suspension.
Kirkwood reckons there is no need to motivate the rest of his players to fight for a place in the starting line-up this weekend after getting a taste of success against United.
“This is one of our closest derbies in the league so I don’t need to motivate the players for this one at all,” he told the Groat.
“These are the teams the players want to take on and I think we have excelled when we’ve been playing against the bigger sides this year. When we hit the right pace very few teams can keep up with us.”
The win last weekend has brought some confidence back to the squad, according to Kirkwood, and it is something he is keen to capitalise on tomorrow.
“I don’t think any team relishes coming up to Wick but the thing is we’ve done okay on the road this year so it’s the best of both worlds for us,” he said. “But I think we’ve got to make Harmsworth more of a fortress. We let Keith go away with a win, we let Deveronvale go away with a win and Fraserburgh as well.”
The Scorrie boss wants to make sure there is not another repeat of that.
“Titchy [Richard Hughes, assistant manager] has helped as he knows the opposition but I’m just letting the players focus on themselves and look at their own strengths,” said ?Kirkwood.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not disregarding the other teams’ strengths and weaknesses but I think the key focus should be on what we can do.”
Meanwhile Nairn County manager Les Fridge is quite content as his squad has clocked up the biggest goal difference so far – scoring 36 goals in 12 games while conceding 13.
That has put the side in second place in the league and within touching distance of pulling even with Forres – should County win and Forres lose to Clachnacuddin tomorrow.
Fridge is pleased with his squad’s finishing and how the players are working across the pitch.
“It’s going okay, fortunately our goals have come from all over the park and not just from the front,” he said. “I think we’ve carried on from a very strong finish last season.”
Looking to tomorrow’s fixture, the County manager said he knows that after a fairly long trip up the road his day will not get any easier.
“We always get a very difficult game when we go up to Wick, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“Davie Kirkwood has come in and done a good job and has got his squad playing nice football by all accounts. It’s going to be even more difficult on the back of them getting a good result last weekend.”
Nairn could be without forward Connor Gethins who was a doubt last week due to injury.
Defender Paul Macleod will definitely miss out following a booking last weekend.
