New-look Fort William will be a 'step into the unknown' for Wick Academy
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Wick Academy face a "step into the unknown" on Saturday as they come up against new-look Fort William at Harmsworth Park.
The Lochaber outfit have been recruiting heavily since appointing Shadab Iftikhar as manager two months ago as they try to move away from their customary bottom place in the Highland League.
Academy won 3-1 when the teams met in Wick at the start of October – in what was technically a home game for Fort – but the Scorries' manager Gary Manson expects a much-changed opposition line-up this weekend.
“It's more or less a brand new eleven, so what we learned and what we saw from them last time out is completely irrelevant now – it's a new manager and new players," he said. "It's another step into the unknown.
"It'll be a different challenge and it'll be interesting to see what they come up with.”
Academy have grown accustomed to having key players missing each week and Saturday's match is no different, with eight unavailable for a variety of reasons. Danny Mackay is still suspended and fellow central defender Andy Hardwick has work commitments, while the others ruled out are Alan Farquhar, Sean Campbell, Ryan Campbell, Richard Macadie, Brandon Sinclair and Alan Mathieson.
Joe Anderson will be back in the squad.
After a run of six wins in a row, the Scorries have suffered narrow defeats in their last two outings, going down 2-1 at home to Rothes before last weekend's 3-2 loss to Formartine United at North Lodge Park.
“Confidence isn't low at all," Manson said. "That's two defeats we've had now, to Rothes and Formartine, but both performances were reasonable enough – we should have taken something from both games.
“We'll just need to stop the defeats, nip that in the bud, and hopefully pick up three points again on Saturday."
Academy have won 11 of the last 12 matches between the clubs in all competitions, with the other ending in a 2-2 draw at Claggan Park in April 2018.
When the teams met on October 2, the Scorries had to come from behind before securing their first win of the season. Marios Avraam gave Fort the lead but Academy responded with goals from Andy Hardwick, Jack Halliday and Davie Allan.
Fort picked up only their second point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw at Huntly at the weekend before losing 3-0 at Brora on Wednesday night.
Iftikhar was part of Belgium's backroom team in the European Championship finals last summer through his links with manager Roberto Martinez.
Fort are now seven points behind second-bottom Turriff United with five games in hand.
Kick-off has been brought forward to 2.30pm following the loss of a floodlight pylon at Harmsworth Park in strong winds in January.
Buckie Thistle are the new Highland League leaders after coming from behind to win 3-1 in Wednesday's top-of-the-table encounter at Fraserburgh. The Jags are ahead on goal difference, although they have played one more game than the Broch.
Inverurie Locos won 2-1 at Turriff.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday: Buckie Thistle v Brechin City; Deveronvale v Turriff United; Formartine United v Strathspey Thistle; Fraserburgh v Clachnacuddin; Huntly v Brora Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Nairn County; Keith v Forres; Rothes v Lossiemouth; Wick Academy v Fort William (2.30pm).
