Locos steam ahead as Wick fail to capitalise on their opportunities
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WICK ACADEMY 1
INVERURIE LOCOS 3
IT WAS full steam ahead for Inverurie as Wick Academy’s valiant attempt to put the buffers on Locos failed to steer them off track.
The Inverurie outfit pulled into town and handed out the same lesson that Wick delivered to Fraserburgh seven days before – take your chances when they come to you,
Chris Angus and Martin Laing did just that with the former bagging a double and Laing rounding things off with almost the last kick of the match.
Academy – whose goal came when Michael Steven’s looping header cancelled out Angus’s first – were left kicking themselves at what might have been as chances went astray.
Locos, on the other hand, were in no mood to be forgiving when errors from their hosts presented them with gilt-edged opportunities.
It was a reverse of what happened at Harmsworth Park the week before when Wick made Fraserburgh pay for not taking their chances.
Such are the swings and roundabouts that football can deliver.
Academy boss Tom McKenna felt his side deserved at least a point but admitted they had themselves to blame for not getting it.
He said: “We made some crucial errors and at the end of the day they cost us.
“We had many chances to score but were unable to put them away.
“I felt a draw would have been a fair result given both teams were prepared to come out and play.
“Their first goal was against the run of play but was one that was avoidable.
“Sean McCarthy has been brilliant in goal for us all season. Sadly he miskicked a clearance straight to the opposition and seconds later we’re a goal down.
“Sean has been outstanding for us this season and if you take that error out of the equation then he had another good game.
“We battled back in the second half and got our reward when Michael headed in. Up until their second – which came late in the game – it was nip and tuck as to who was going to win.
“We had our chances but couldn’t convert them.
“Then another defensive error cost us when Michael stumbled on the ball, which allowed their striker to capitalise and score.
“The lads were very disappointed afterwards but I took that as being a good sign. On paper, a neutral would look at the league positions and not be surprised by the result.
“But the fact that the players feel gutted they didn’t beat a team that’s been in a title race this season shows how their mind-set is – they want to lift themselves to the level Locos are at.”
Wick travel to Rothes this evening and McKenna admits he’s struggling to find numbers to fill the team-sheet.
He said: “We’ve had so many rearranged midweek fixtures of late and not surprisingly some lads can’t get the time off work to play for us.
“There’s only so much they can take and we’re a bit short for players for the trip to Rothes.
“I will probably have to dip in to the under-17 squad.
“But rest assured there’s no way I’m putting the boots back on. We’d probably be a man down if I did that.”
