Manson admits Wick Academy will need to address lack of goal threat
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Manager Gary Manson admits that Wick Academy will need to address the lack of attacking threat that has contributed to their downfall in too many games this season.
After a positive first-half display against Formartine United in Saturday's Highland League Cup preliminary round tie at Harmsworth Park, the Scorries had little to offer after the break as the visitors ran out 2-0 winners.
Realistically it was Academy's last hope of challenging for silverware this term and they return to Highland League business on Wednesday night with a trip to Nairn County.
“Formartine are a good side,” Manson said. “They're one of the top teams in the league.
“They pick up young boys that get let go from Aberdeen – they've got two or three of them, so they're obviously very good technical players and they're up challenging at the top end of the league.
“They'll know they were in a game.
“The first half was extremely even. We had a couple of good chances, they had maybe two good chances. Even their goal wasn't really a chance – it was a flicked header that went in at the back post.
“In the first half there wasn't an awful lot wrong. We addressed a couple of issues at half-time, but in the second half we just never got going in an attacking sense at all.
“It's something that has plagued us most of this season – not creating enough chances, not taking enough chances, not getting enough shots away, not getting enough bodies forward in the box – and it's something we'll need to look at addressing sharpish if we're going to achieve anything this season.
“I'm afraid it's just where we are at the moment but it is something we will definitely need to look at and address if we can moving forward.
“We've got a couple of league games coming up against teams that are round about us at the moment, Nairn and Deveronvale, so the next two games are quite important to get six points in.”
The trip to Nairn was rearranged for Wednesday night after a bus breakdown forced the postponement of the original fixture scheduled for October 1.
The Wee County brought in former Brora manager Steven Mackay last month after the departure of previous boss Ronnie Sharp. Nairn are 16th in the league, three places below Academy.
Manson said: “They'll be disappointed with where they are, and that's the reason they changed managers.
“On their day they are a very good team. Attacking-wise they've got a lot a lot of talent, a lot of threat.
“I would imagine if we put in the same performance as we did in the first half today then the chances are we'll have a good result.
“But there was no attacking intent there in the second half and it was quite disappointing to watch. There was nobody busting a gut to get into the box and get on the end of something, no-one really wanting to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and say, 'Right, I'll create something, I'll shoot from distance.' So we'll need to show what we did in the first half rather than the second half if we're going to get anything out of the game on Wednesday.”
Formartine's opening goal was a header by Jonathan Smith after 15 minutes. Mark Gallagher put the tie beyond Wick's reach when he scored on the rebound from a free kick with 10 minutes to go.
Lossiemouth won 3-2 away to Strathspey Thistle in the other preliminary round tie, while in the Highland League there were victories for Brechin, Brora, Buckie and Fraserburgh.
Former Caley Thistle and Brora defender Ross Tokely made his Nairn debut on Saturday as the Wee County grabbed a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Keith in the Highland League.
Tokely (43) had spent four seasons with North Caledonian League club St Duthus. He was brought in by Nairn's new manager Steven Mackay to add experience and leadership to the Station Park side, who take on Wick Academy in a rearranged fixture on Wednesday night.
Mackay said of Tokely: “I know from personal experience it is difficult to play regularly in your forties, but if you look after yourself the way he has then I don’t see it being a massive issue. There is a really high level of fitness there.
“All of the positives that come with Ross far outweigh the fact he’s 43. Yes, it will raise a few eyebrows, but we look at what he will bring to the team in terms of experience.
“He’s a born winner, a leader, he organises – all qualities we are needing at the club, given our position and the amount of goals we are leaking.
“I’m more than confident he will come in and make a massive impact.”
Keith took the lead against Nairn through a Stewart Hutcheon penalty just before the break but Angus Dey equalised in stoppage time.
Results from Saturday – Highland League Cup, preliminary round: Strathspey Thistle 2, Lossiemouth 3; Wick Academy 0, Formartine United 2.
Highland League: Brora Rangers 5, Inverurie Locos 2; Buckie Thistle 2, Forres Mechanics 0; Fraserburgh 2, Rothes 0; Keith 1, Nairn County 1; Turriff United 1, Brechin City 4.
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday, November 2: Clachnacuddin v Strathspey Thistle; Deveronvale v Formartine United; Huntly v Fraserburgh; Keith v Buckie Thistle; Nairn County v Wick Academy; Rothes v Banks O' Dee.
Saturday, November 5: Brechin City v Clachnacuddin; Formartine United v Buckie Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Fraserburgh; Huntly v Brora Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Keith; Nairn County v Turriff United; Rothes v Lossiemouth; Strathspey Thistle v Banks O' Dee; Wick Academy v Deveronvale.
