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Macgregor and Mackay on target as Wick Academy extend unbeaten league run


By Alan Hendry

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WICK Academy extended their unbeaten run in the Highland League to seven games with a 2-0 victory over Nairn County at Harmsworth Park on Wednesday night.

Marc Macgregor set the Scorries on their way with a well-taken opener on the stroke of half-time, and Sam Mackay added the second after an unfortunate slip by Nairn keeper Dylan MacLean.

It was the ideal way for Academy to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat in Saturday’s Highland League Cup semi-final at Cove.

Sean McCarthy returned in goal but otherwise Tom McKenna stuck with the team that finished the cup tie at Balmoral Stadium.

Nairn looked lively in the early stages and kept Academy pinned in their own half for most of the opening 20 minutes. There were strong claims for a penalty after Kenny McKenzie tumbled over in the box.

Wick began to pick up the pace and Mackay saw an effort on goal spin just wide after a slick build-up involving Macgregor and Davie Allan.

Macgregor delivered a well-judged pass to Jack Henry, but MacLean thwarted his attempt at a lob.

Henry and Mackay both blazed long-range efforts into the night sky before Angus Dey found himself clear on goal at the South Road end. McCarthy was quick to close down the Nairn forward before he could line up a shot.

A minute before the break, Mackay burst through on a fine solo run but saw his angled drive drift beyond MacLean’s left-hand post.

Academy made the breakthrough with the last action of the first half. Macgregor latched on to a pass at the edge of the box, then twisted and turned before confidently dispatching a low shot into the net.

Nairn almost got themselves level two minutes into the second period when a loose pass by Andrew Hardwick was seized upon by Max Ewan. The youngster went charging up the right and sent a low drive just wide of the far post.

A clever pass by Allan sent Henry clean through but he lifted it over the bar.

Allan was looking lively and he was involved again when he crossed to Mackay, whose volley was blocked at close range. Mackay was not to be denied, however, as seconds later he took advantage of a disastrous miskick by MacLean and had the straightforward task of slotting the ball into the unguarded net.

Two up after 73 minutes, the home side saw out the rest of the game comfortably enough. Nairn’s night went from bad to worse when Glenn Main was sent off with 10 minutes to go after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.

Academy remain unbeaten in the league in 2019 and will be looking to extend that sequence when they entertain Buckie Thistle on Saturday.

Wick Academy: McCarthy, M Steven, Hardwick, Manson, Farquhar, D Mackay (R Allan 77), Henry (R Macadie 67), Macgregor, D Allan, MacNab (Hughes 63), S Mackay. Subs not used: Gunn, M Macadie, G Mackay, Clark.

Nairn County: D MacLean, MacDonald, Ramsay, C MacLean, Glenn Main, Dingwall, Ewan, Naismith, Dey (Gregg Main 63), Porritt (Shewan 63), McKenzie (Urquhart 77). Subs not used: J MacLean, Ednie, McConaghy, Kendall.

Referee: Gordon Seago.

Wick Academy manager Tom McKenna wants his players to build on the midweek victory over Nairn by seeing off Buckie Thistle in the battle for seventh spot in the Highland League.

The Scorries’ 2-0 win on Wednesday lifted them above the Jags, who visit Harmsworth Park this Saturday.

McKenna was pleased with the response to last weekend’s cup semi-final loss to Cove Rangers.

“I said to the boys if you’re harbouring any frustrations or disappointments from Saturday let’s focus on tonight and get our minds on that, and let’s keep the league run going,” he said. “Our goal is to get seventh place and that’s us above Buckie now, so it makes the game on Saturday a lot more interesting.

“Nairn came out and had a really good go at us. I was impressed with a lot of the young lads in their team. They set up in a kind of 4-5-1 really just to contain us and play on the counter, and they did it effectively.

“I thought we struggled to cope with the intensity of the game and it was all due to Nairn. But gradually we settled into it and we took more control and the experience shone through. In the second half we were a lot more dominant and created the better chances.

“I think we deserved the three points no matter how they came.”

McKenna added: “I don’t know how the pitch is going to be for Saturday. The guys were complaining about it because it’s really cutting up. They like to play football and unfortunately the surface just wasn’t conducive to that.

“We had a lot of good individual showings tonight. People have stepped up and we’ll carry that forward to Saturday.

“Reading a few of Buckie’s reports, they are looking for seventh and will try to get even higher if they can, but I think Forres are too far ahead at this stage of the season.

“It makes it an interesting game on Saturday between two good teams.”

Nairn boss Ronnie Sharp admitted his young squad is still a “work on progress” following Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Wick.

The visitors fell behind to a Marc Macgregor goal on the stroke of half-time, and there was no way back for the Wee County after Sam Mackay took full advantage of an error by keeper Dylan MacLean to double the lead.

“I thought for 20 minutes we were the better team,” Sharp said. “The first half was even, there wasn’t much in it, and we were a bit deflated after they scored bang on half-time.

“Wick started better in the second half. We were trying to get back into the game, but you can’t make mistakes like that for the second goal.

“Wick is a difficult place to come – they’re a good experienced side who have been together a long time. I was impressed with Marc Macgregor – he gives them a focal point.

“We’re trying to play a new system. We have a young team that we’re trying to bed in. We’ve got three or four teenagers playing.

“It’s a work in progress, but we’re doing what we did earlier in the season – you shoot yourselves in the foot at times.

“It’s getting the attitude right to raise your game after things go wrong, that’s the problem.”


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