Manson praises depleted squad as Wick Academy end 13-game winless sequence
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Wick Academy manager Gary Manson praised his depleted squad for standing up and taking responsibility after they ended a 13-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Turriff United.
Saturday's result at The Haughs was the Scorries' biggest winning margin in the league this season and it lifted them out of second-bottom place.
"I said to them at the start of the game, when you're down to the bare bones and your backs are against the wall, that's when you learn most about yourself," Manson said. "Fair play to everyone – to a man they stood up and took responsibility and were accountable for carrying out their jobs."
Academy had gone into the match after a demoralising sequence of seven straight defeats. The number of absentees ran into double figures but the club's Orkney trio made the journey and Manson brought in Chris Angus, the ex-Buckie and Inverurie forward, and midfielder Grant Campbell, formerly of Wick, Huntly, Cove and Fraserburgh, with the latter starting on the bench after feeling sick.
Richard Macadie broke the deadlock with a penalty after 59 minutes. Five minutes later Turriff were awarded a spot-kick but Ewan Clark's effort was saved by Graeme Williamson.
Academy doubled their lead on 69 minutes. From a Ross Allan corner, Owen Rendall's header was blocked by keeper David Dey and Mark Macadie was on hand to fire it in from about four yards.
Gordon MacNab made sure of the points with another penalty on 79 minutes.
"It had been coming," Manson said. "The last few performances haven't been that bad, it's just that we've not been getting the breaks.
"They were stonewall penalties but some referees might not have given them.
"There's a core seven, eight or nine boys that have been there quite regularly over the course of the last few weeks and not getting the breaks, and getting body blow after body blow, so I was really happy for them.
"With the commitment they give, and the travelling that they've done, it was good for their confidence and belief and morale to get the three points.
"Everyone played their part. There were no passengers.
"It probably could have and should have been more than 3-0. In the second half all the chances were coming for us.
"You're always happy getting a win – but when you win with no goals against, after conceding an awful lot of goals recently, it's pleasing.
"I don't think Turriff could really argue with the 3-0 scoreline. We looked quite comfortable. Apart from the penalty we didn't really have any problems with them at all."
It was Academy's fifth clean sheet this season in all competitions, two more than in the whole of the 2021/22 campaign.
Manager Gary Manson has vowed that Wick Academy will "give it our best shot" in Wednesday night's match against Inverurie Locos.
It is the third in a series of four long away trips for the Scorries in an 11-day spell and they go to Harlaw Park with renewed confidence after Saturday's 3-0 win at Turriff.
Sixth-placed Locos will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Banks O' Dee in the Highland League Cup final.
"Inverurie away is a tricky game anyway but on a Wednesday night it'll be even more so," Manson said.
"They'll be hurting after losing the cup final on Saturday so I imagine they'll try and put that right.
"We'll see what numbers and availability we have and we'll go down and give it our best shot. We'll see how many points we can get in the last three games."
Chris Angus and Grant Campbell were drafted in to the squad at Turriff, with Campbell coming on for Angus in the second half.
"It's where we are just now as a squad," Manson said. "We've had to think outside the box and come up with solutions.
"Grant was due to start the game but woke up on Saturday feeling really sick and he was only fit for doing 15 or 20 minutes.
"Chris was more than happy to come along and help us and he did really well."
Orkney-based Jamie Flett, Toby Macleod and Owen Rendall travelled across on the first ferry and stayed overnight in Thurso on Saturday.
Rob McLean will be ineligible for Academy's final three matches.
Buckie Thistle left it late in their pursuit of three crucial Highland League points on Saturday against unlucky Strathspey Thistle.
It was top versus bottom at Grantown but the Strathy Jags made life difficult for the leaders throughout.
Sam Urquhart netted in the first minute of stoppage time and a minute later he raced through to seal a 2-0 victory for Graeme Stewart's side.
In the Highland League Cup final at Fraserburgh, a new name was put on the silverware as Banks O' Dee – in their debut Highland League season – defeated Inverurie 1-0 thanks to Magnus Watson's second-half strike.
Brora Rangers look favourites to clinch third spot in the Highland League after Colin Williamson's last-minute goal took them above opponents Formartine with a 2-1 win. Julian Wade had put United in front early before Dale Gillespie equalised.
Keith and Huntly drew 1-1 at Kynoch Park and it was the same scoreline at Mackessack Park as Rothes shared the points with Deveronvale.
Conor Gethins was the scorer as Nairn County beat Clachnacuddin 1-0.
Results – Highland League: Brora Rangers 2, Formartine United 1; Keith 1, Huntly 1; Nairn County 1, Clachnacuddin 0; Rothes 1, Deveronvale 1; Strathspey Thistle 0, Buckie Thistle 2; Turriff United 0, Wick Academy 3.
Highland League Cup final: Banks O' Dee 1, Inverurie Locos 0 (at Fraserburgh).
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday, April 12: Brechin City v Fraserburgh; Brora Rangers v Lossiemouth; Inverurie Locos v Wick Academy; Strathspey Thistle v Keith.
Saturday, April 15: Banks O' Dee v Strathspey Thistle; Brora Rangers v Huntly; Buckie Thistle v Formartine United; Clachnacuddin v Brechin City; Deveronvale v Wick Academy; Keith v Inverurie Locos; Lossiemouth v Rothes; Turriff United v Nairn County.
