New recruit Robertson will have 'seamless transition' into Wick squad
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Manager Gary Manson is convinced that new recruit Matthew Robertson will be a "valuable asset" for Wick Academy following his departure from Ross County's youth set-up.
The 16-year-old defender from Lybster is in the Wick squad for Wednesday night's Highland League game against Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park and Manson reckons it will be a "seamless transition" as Robertson is already well acquainted with his new team-mates.
"It's a lot of travelling, going up and down the road to Dingwall the whole time, so he did a wee bit of pre-season with us and then he has trained with us every so often if the roads have been bad," Manson explained.
"He knows the squad and our boys know him, so it'll be quite a seamless transition for him to come in and be part of the squad.
"From what I know of Matthew, and what we've seen in training, he'll be a valuable asset for us."
Academy's scheduled encounter with Forres Mechanics on Saturday was called off because of a waterlogged pitch at Mosset Park. As a result, the midweek match will be the second of two back-to-back fixtures with bottom club Strathspey.
Academy won 3-2 when the teams met at Harmsworth Park a week and a half ago, a result that lifted Manson's side to 14th. The Scorries were three up at half-time thanks to goals from Gordon MacNab, Kyle Henderson and Jack Halliday, with Jack Davison scoring twice for the Strathy Jags after the break.
"It's a bit odd that we're playing the same team twice in a row on league duty but it's another good chance to get three points, so we'll go down there in good spirits on Wednesday," Manson said.
He admitted that a midweek journey to Grantown-on-Spey is "far from ideal".
He went on: "A lot of the boys in the squad are new to the Highland League but it's just part and parcel, I'm afraid. You get to this time of year and you have to play catch-up on fixtures. You've just got to get on with it.
"I watched the last game back a couple of times and in fairness we played quite well throughout the whole match. We were more than worthy winners – we probably should have had six or seven goals and we limited them to two or three chances.
"It was more a case of us missing chances. When you don't take the majority of your chances you're susceptible to the counter-attack or a corner or a free kick thrown into the box.
"While it maybe looked like we were hanging on a wee bit at the end at 3-2, in terms of the balance of play and chances created I think we were well on top.
"We'll be looking to carry that into Wednesday. It'll be a completely different game – a different pitch and different surroundings, obviously, and the midweek part of things doesn't help matters, but there will be no excuses. We'll go down there and hopefully come back with a win."
Josh Peters was Buckie Thistle’s hat-trick hero in a 3-1 win over Rothes, who had Richard Hastings in charge for the first time.
The game was switched to Princess Royal Park in Banff because of drainage problems at Buckie's Victoria Park.
Rothes netted first through Gary Kerr but Peters responded with a treble for the Jags, who are 15 points behind leaders Brechin City but with five games in hand.
Brechin City kept up their title defence with a 2-0 victory away to Inverurie Locos. Danny Handling and Marc Scott got the goals.
Second-placed Banks O’ Dee thumped Deveronvale 4-1 at Spain Park. Kane Winton, Hamish Macleod, Ethan Cairns and Lachie Macleod were Dee’s scorers after Jamie McLellan had given Vale an early minute lead.
Fraserburgh fought back from two down away to Formartine United to draw 2-2.
The Pitmedden side went ahead in the first half through Graeme Rodger, and Julian Wade’s 80th-minute finish looked to have made the points safe. But the Broch hit back with goals from Sean Butcher and Willie West.
Lossiemouth won 2-1 at home to Strathspey Thistle, who remain seven points adrift at the bottom.
Brora Rangers had agreed to switch their home fixture against Clachnacuddin to Grant Street Park with Dudgeon Park unplayable, but the move came to nothing as the game was postponed.
Rothes announced Richard Hastings as their new manager, with the former Caley Thistle defender having agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal.
He takes over from Ross Jack, whose last game in charge was the goalless draw with Wick Academy at Harmsworth Park last month.
Hastings, having previously managed Inverurie Locos during a spell that lasted 17 months, takes over at Mackessack Park with Rothes sitting 10th in the Highland League table.
The club interviewed several candidates for the role but said that Hastings' "ambition and desire to succeed" made him their preferred pick for the role.
A club statement said: "Rothes Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Hastings as our team manager.
"We had received interest from several high-quality candidates but Richard's ambition and desire to succeed shone through.
"He had a fantastic playing career with Ross County, Inverness CT and Hamilton amongst others.
"Richard also represented the Canadian national team, winning 59 caps for his country.
"He has previously been head of youth academy at Ross County and most recently managed fellow Highland League club Inverurie Loco Works.
"We are excited to welcome Richard to our club."
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 4, Deveronvale 1; Buckie Thistle 3, Rothes 1; Formartine United 2, Fraserburgh 2; Inverurie Locos 0, Brechin City 2; Lossiemouth 2, Strathspey Thistle 1; Turriff United 4, Huntly 0.
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday, February 14: Banks O' Dee v Rothes; Brora Rangers v Buckie Thistle; Keith v Turriff United; Lossiemouth v Inverurie Locos; Nairn County v Huntly; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy (8pm).
Saturday, February 17: Brechin City v Buckie Thistle; Clachnacuddin v Banks O' Dee; Forres Mechanics v Formartine United; Fraserburgh v Huntly; Nairn County v Deveronvale; Rothes v Keith; Strathspey Thistle v Inverurie Locos; Turriff United v Brora Rangers; Wick Academy v Lossiemouth (3pm).
