Manson says 'brand new' Wick team will take time to settle after Deveronvale draw
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Wick Academy manager Gary Manson was frustrated at having to settle for a share of the points with Deveronvale on Saturday but emphasised that it will take time for his "brand new team" to get used to playing together.
The Scorries picked up their first point of the 2023/24 Highland League campaign when they fought back from a two-goal deficit at half-time to emerge with a 2-2 draw at Harmsworth Park.
"No disrespect to Deveronvale but against a bottom-half team you've never happy with a point at home, regardless of how the game pans out," Manson said after the full-time whistle.
"The message at half-time was to get on the front foot as quickly as you possibly can, try and get the first goal and anything can happen.
"That's what happened, but I'm still really disappointed not to take three points out of that."
Deveronvale went ahead after 41 minutes when Harry Noble's well-struck free kick was spilled by Academy keeper Graeme Williamson and Mikey Watson was on hand to knock in the rebound.
In first-half stoppage time the visitors doubled their lead when they attacked down the right and Matty Petermann's low cross was turned in by Cameron Angus.
Wick reduced the deficit after 53 minutes when Kyle Henderson swung over a corner from the right and Ross Gunn bundled it in from close range for a debut goal.
The equaliser on 82 minutes stemmed from another right-wing corner by Henderson. This time Marc Macgregor rose to connect with it and his angled head-flick beat keeper Sean McIntosh at the far post.
Manson said: "Graeme should have done better with that first goal and I don't think they would have scored the second if they didn't have their tails up from the first one."
The manager was pleased with Henderson's contribution to the two goals.
"It's a constant threat," Manson said. "His set-pieces are unbelievable. He whips a great ball in.
"We had a number of corners and free kicks that we could have done slightly better with.
"It's a brand new team. There were seven or eight new players involved today, so it will take a wee bit of time.
"We're not here to judge them after two games in the league season.
"Hopefully in the next three or four weeks we'll really see how the rest of the season will pan out."
In the build-up to the game, Manson had talked about the importance of having a strong bench and being able to make "like-for-like" substitutions.
"I thought Gordon MacNab and James Mackay did really well when they came on, and being able to bring Mark Macadie off the bench gave us a bit of impetus," he said.
Deveronvale looked to be on course for maximum points from their opening two Highland League fixtures when they went in at half-time with a two-goal lead over Wick Academy on Saturday. However, the Scorries came battling back to earn a 2-2 draw.
Vale had begun the season with a 1-0 home win against Keith.
Deveronvale manager Craig Stewart said: "Am I happy with the point in the end? I think so. Wick put us under a lot of pressure in the second half.
"Ultimately it's two corners [that led to the Wick goals] and that's disappointing.
"We said at half-time that Wick were a big threat from corners and to stop giving silly corners and silly free kicks away. We didn't really take that on board, to be honest.
"We didn't keep possession well enough in the second half whereas we controlled it a bit more in the first half.
"It was very similar to last week but I thought Wick were a bigger threat than Keith.
"In the end, a point up here is a good point. Would I have taken it before the game? No, I wouldn't have – I wasn't coming up here for a point.
"I'm disappointed to be 2-0 up and then get a draw out of it. However, we could have lost it in the end as well.
"I didn't think we did enough going forward."
Matty Petermann had a fleeting chance to snatch victory for Vale when the ball was played in from the left but he was unable to make the most of it.
"Young Matty had a glorious chance out of nothing," Stewart said. "That would have been harsh on Wick.
"Over the piece it was a game of two halves and probably a draw is about right.
"We're a new group and this is only our second proper season together. It's four points on the board and we're still unbeaten."
Fraserburgh went top of the Highland League on goal difference after a stunning 7-0 win away over Inverurie Locos.
Broch were 3-0 up after 12 minutes through a Ryan Sargent penalty and goals by Scott Barbour and Sean Butcher.
Butcher added another and a Calum Dingwall own goal made it 5-0 at the break.
Connor Wood netted two late goals for the Buchan side.
League champions Brechin City threw away a 2-0 lead at Huntly as they had to settle for a point.
Goals by a trialist and Hamish Thomson seemingly had the visitors in control at Christie Park. But Michael Dangana pulled one back and Brodie Allen's penalty earned a 2-2 draw for Huntly.
Banks O' Dee beat Nairn County 3-0 after scoring the quickest goal of the day, Hamish Macleod netting inside 20 seconds. He added a second and Chris Antoniazzi clinched it in stoppage time.
For the second week in a row, Andy Macrae scored the only goal of the game for Brora Rangers to secure a 1-0 win – this time at Rothes.
Kyle Macleod netted twice for Buckie Thistle in a 4-0 home win against Turriff United. Andy MacAskill and Sam Pugh got the others.
Three goals by Forres Mechanics in the final half-hour settled the Moray derby at Lossiemouth as the Can-Cans ran out 3-0 winners.
Formartine netted four without reply at home to Strathspey Thistle, while Keith and Clach drew 1-1.
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 3, Nairn County 0; Buckie Thistle 4, Turriff United 0; Formartine United 4, Strathspey Thistle 0; Huntly 2, Brechin City 2; Inverurie Locos 0, Fraserburgh 7; Keith 1, Clachnacuddin 1; Lossiemouth 0, Forres Mechanics 3; Rothes 0, Brora Rangers 1; Wick Academy 2, Deveronvale 2.
Fixtures for Saturday, August 12 – Highland League Cup, preliminary round: Huntly v Inverurie Locos; Wick Academy v Nairn County.
Highland League: Brechin City v Brora Rangers; Clachnacuddin v Deveronvale; Fraserburgh v Buckie Thistle; Lossiemouth v Formartine United; Rothes v Banks O' Dee; Turriff United v Keith (all 3pm).
