Mixed bag of results but Wick Academy are going in right direction, says Gary Manson
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Manager Gary Manson is convinced that Wick Academy are going in the right direction after a "mixed bag" of results in the 2023/24 campaign so far.
He was speaking after Saturday's drab goalless draw against Deveronvale at Princess Royal Park, the first Highland League outing for the Scorries since November 25 following a run of three postponements.
The point was Academy's first on their travels this season and it was enough to lift them back up to 14th in the table.
“There was nothing in it – it was a poor game," Manson admitted. “It wasn't a great spectacle. Chances were very few and far between.
“If you're looking for positives, it's a clean sheet and we find them quite hard to come by."
Experienced defender Alan Farquhar, who was sidelined with a knee injury for a lengthy spell and is now part of Manson's coaching team, managed a full 90 minutes.
“Alan did well," the manager said. "You know what you get with him. He'll always try his best and he'll organise around about him.
“The whole team defended well and we limited them to very few chances.
“It was our first game in three weeks, so we were maybe slightly rusty, and it was quite windy. There were a few factors that maybe contributed to the poor quality of the game.
“But it's clean sheet and a point. It's not very often that we get a 0-0."
In fact it was Academy's first goalless draw since a home match against Brora Rangers in April 2019.
Assessing the season as a whole, Manson said: “It has been a mixed bag. Inconsistency is one way of describing it, but things are starting to look a wee bit better.
“Saturday aside, our performance levels in the last four or five games have been generally quite good. We've taken points off some good teams, but Saturday you can maybe just put down to a wee bit of rustiness.
“We're going in the right direction. The boys can see that things are starting to turn the way we want them.
“I've said it before, we took a lot of new players in at the start of the season – boys that haven't played at this level before – so it was always going to take time.
“We don't only look for good players, but good people and good characters, and the spirit in the camp is really good. We just haven't got the points that maybe our last four or five games have merited.
“Hopefully things are starting to settle and going the way we want and hopefully we'll start putting more points on the board.”
Clachnacuddin picked up their first league win of the season at the 17th attempt as they defeated Keith 3-1 at Grant Street Park.
The Lilywhites went in front when Harry Hennem scored from the penalty spot. Keith levelled before half-time through Matty Tough.
Goals in the last 10 minutes from Rorie Macleod and Connor Bunce gave Clach all three points.
Nairn County scored with the last kick of the game to earn a 3-3 draw with Banks O’Dee at Station Park.
Ross Tokely put the home side ahead but Dee responded with goals from Chris Antoniazzi and Dayshonne Golding to go 2-1 up at the break. The visitors then extended their lead through Lachie Macleod.
Dee were reduced to 10 men when Kacper Lewecki was sent off and Nairn capitalised when Calum Mackay reduced the deficit.
Nairn's Fraser Dingwall was sent off in the closing stages before Andrew Macleod rescued a point deep in stoppage time.
Jordan MacRae's first-half strike was enough to give Brora Rangers a 1-0 victory over Rothes at Dudgeon Park.
A stoppage-time equaliser by Ryan Stuart gave Lossiemouth a 1-1 draw at Forres, who had led through a first-half goal from Craig Mackenzie.
Buckie Thistle also left it late at Turriff United before securing a 3-1 victory at The Haughs. Turriff went ahead through Finlay Murray but the Jags turned it around with goals from Jack Murray, Max Barry and Jack MacIver.
Adam Emslie's fifth-minute goal gave Formartine United a 1-0 success at bottom club Strathspey Thistle.
Brechin City returned to top spot with a 5-0 win at home to Huntly, Grady McGrath scoring his fourth hat-trick of the season.
Fraserburgh were twice pegged back by Inverurie Locos but a Ryan Sargent double helped the Buchan men to a 4-2 win.
Highland League results: Brechin City 5, Huntly 0; Brora Rangers 1, Rothes 0; Clachnacuddin 3, Keith 1; Deveronvale 0, Wick Academy 0; Forres Mechanics 1, Lossiemouth 1; Fraserburgh 4, Inverurie Locos 2; Nairn County 3, Banks O' Dee 3; Strathspey Thistle 0, Formartine United 1; Turriff United 1, Buckie Thistle 3.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, December 23: Banks O' Dee v Rothes; Brora Rangers v Brechin City; Buckie Thistle v Fraserburgh; Deveronvale v Clachnacuddin; Formartine United v Lossiemouth; Huntly v Strathspey Thistle; Inverurie Locos v Forres Mechanics; Keith v Turriff United.
