'More positives than negatives' in Wick Academy's opening-day defeat
Wick Academy manager Gary Manson felt there were "a lot more positives than negatives" to take from the 4-0 defeat to Banks O' Dee on the opening day of the 2023/24 Highland League season.
The Scorries had announced six new signings during the summer break but a combination of factors left them under-strength for Saturday's trip to Spain Park.
Dee opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a low shot by Hamish Macleod from just outside the box. Lachie Macleod doubled their lead just before the hour mark.
The home side were reduced to 10 men after 73 minutes when Magnus Watson was sent off. Max Alexander got their third goal a couple of minutes later and the substitute completed the scoring in stoppage time with his second of the afternoon.
Manson said: "Obviously you're never coming away from a 4-0 defeat full of the joys, but I felt there were a lot more positives than negatives to come out of it.
"We went down there with no recognised attackers, really. We had to be a bit creative and think outside the box with how we shaped up.
"The first half was quite fifty-fifty. We set up with a shape and a game plan to frustrate them and try to hit them on the counter, and the first half panned out exactly in that fashion.
"We sat in with a back five and defended really well. Their goal was a shot from about 25 yards and on another day Graeme Williamson would have saved it but it sneaked in the bottom corner.
"That was the only difference between the sides at half-time. We had three decent chances on the break and could have done better with them.
"We just asked everyone to be disciplined, stick to the game plan and carry out exactly what we asked.
"The game was in the balance at half-time but they've got an abundance of quality to come off the bench. They made substitutions that arguably strengthened their team on the park rather than weakened it in any way, and their quality told in the end.
"They had nine substitutes and all of them were top half of the Highland League table quality. We would have been up against it if we'd had our full complement. It's a tough venue to play in, it's a tough team to play against.
"There were a lot more positives than negatives to come out of it because there were a lot of new players playing and that's their first glimpse of a top Highland League team, so that'll stand them in good stead."
Manson is promising a more attack-minded approach from Academy in their first home fixture of the league campaign against Deveronvale this Saturday.
The Banff side finished second bottom last term, one place below the Scorries.
"It'll be a completely different game," Manson said. "Against Banks O' Dee we set up just to frustrate them and hit them on the counter and defend our box really well.
"This week will be completely different – we'll be looking to impose ourselves on them and create numerous opportunities, pushing bodies forward and trying to score goals.
"We should have a stronger squad. For one reason or another, Saturday's squad was threadbare – we were missing nine players.
"It's always going to be difficult going down to Banks O' Dee at any time, but when you're missing nine players it makes it doubly difficult.
"We'll hopefully have some of them back for this Saturday and go into it a lot more attack-minded and look to take the game to them."
Wick Academy: Graeme Williamson, Alan Hughes (Lucas Reid 86), Ryan Campbell, Owen Harrold, Rob McLean, Owen Rendall, Marc Coghill, Shaun Urquhart, Gary Pullen (Morgan Kennedy 86), Jack Halliday (Conor Farquhar 79), Richard Macadie. Subs not used: Gary Manson, Alan Farquhar, Ben Sutherland (goalkeeper).
Harrold, McLean, Rendall, Coghill, Urquhart, Conor Farquhar, Kennedy, Reid and Sutherland were listed as trialists.
New recruit Owen Harrold will be a valuable asset for Wick Academy, according to manager Gary Manson.
The 27-year-old defender became the Scorries' sixth signing of the summer when he agreed a two-year deal at Harmsworth Park.
Defender Rob McLean, forward Kyle Henderson and midfielders James Mackay, Gary Pullen and Marc Coghill have also joined.
Manson said: "Owen is a good player and he's got bags of experience under his belt.
"He's a defender that loves to defend. He likes putting his body on the line, he likes winning headers and winning tackles.
"You want to fill your squad with different attributes and Owen will be a very valuable asset.
"He showed up really well on Saturday [against Banks O' Dee] in his first insight into Highland League football so I'm looking forward to seeing him go from strength to strength."
Brechin City began their defence of the Highland League title with a 1-0 victory over Formartine United at Glebe Park thanks to Ewan Loudon’s spot-kick in the second half. Formartine had two players sent off.
Buckie Thistle came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 against Clachnacuddin at Grant Street Park, with Andrew MacAskill netting a stoppage-time penalty to secure all three points for the visitors.
There was also last-gasp drama at Nairn's Station Park where Andy Macrae popped up to give Brora Rangers a 1-0 victory.
Turriff United and Huntly began the league season in style with 4-1 victories over Inverurie Locos and Rothes respectively.
Fraserburgh saw off Lossiemouth 3-1, while Deveronvale – who visit Wick this weekend – picked up a 1-0 win at home to Keith.
Forres Mechanics came from behind to win 2-1 at Mosset Park against last season's bottom club, Strathspey Thistle.
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 4, Wick Academy 0; Brechin City 1, Formartine United 0; Clachnacuddin 2, Buckie Thistle 3; Deveronvale 1, Keith 0; Forres Mechanics 2, Strathspey Thistle 1; Fraserburgh 3, Lossiemouth 1; Nairn County 0, Brora Rangers 1; Rothes 1, Huntly 4; Turriff United 4, Inverurie Locos 1.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, August 5: Banks O' Dee v Nairn County; Brora Rangers v Rothes; Buckie Thistle v Turriff United; Huntly v Brechin City; Inverurie Locos v Fraserburgh; Keith v Clachnacuddin; Lossiemouth v Forres Mechanics; Formartine United v Strathspey Thistle; Wick Academy v Deveronvale.