No need to be downbeat after cup loss to Brora, says Wick manager Gary Manson
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Gary Manson has told his Wick Academy players there is no reason for them to feel downbeat over their midweek North of Scotland Cup exit at the hands of Brora Rangers.
Andy Macrae's first-half goal was enough to send the Cattachs through in a keenly contested quarter-final derby under the Harmsworth Park floodlights.
“I don't think anyone could argue if that finished in a draw," Manson said. "It was a good game, it ebbed and flowed, both teams had their own spells of dominance.
“That final pass, final cross, final shot just wasn't there. Did we test their keeper enough? Probably not. But in terms of endeavour and workrate and quality up until the final third, I thought it was quite good."
Wednesday's result means Academy are still seeking their first win of the season after three draws and a defeat in their opening four league fixtures.
“I said to the players, don't be downbeat after that performance. Overall it was good and the first few league games have been good performances as well, so it is coming. We've got two home games coming up either side of Keith away next midweek. It will come – it's just a matter of time.”
Manson was pleased with the energy and intensity his players showed throughout, although ultimately they were unable to find a way through a typically solid Brora back line.
“We asked the boys to be intense and aggressive in and out of possession so that when they have it you go and press them to try and win the ball higher up the park," Manson said.
“They've done it in all the games so far this season. They're just not getting their just rewards. For their goal, it deflects off our defender and falls straight to Andy Macrae and he puts it in the net. We're not getting those breaks in front of the opposition's goal at the moment.”
The decisive moment came after 12 minutes when Brora attacked at pace up the left. Gregor MacDonald’s ball into the box was knocked back for Macrae and he directed it past keeper Graeme Williamson from about the six-yard line.
The visitors looked set to double their lead when the Wick defence was caught out by a ball over the top but Tom Kelly's lob dipped over the bar.
Matthew Wright then dragged a shot wide and MacDonald, in acres of space, was denied by Williamson just inside the penalty area.
However, Academy were playing at a high tempo and they began to assert themselves more as the first half progressed. There were appeals for a penalty when Gordon MacNab appeared to be bundled over after getting on the end of a Davie Allan pass.
The Scorries had to settle for a corner instead, and in the aftermath of that Sean Campbell curled a decent effort just beyond the junction of post and bar.
They threatened again when Ross Allan, overlapping down the left, delivered a low cross into the box from which his brother Davie flicked an angled shot over the top.
Early in the second half Brora's Dale Gillespie tested Williamson with a firmly struck shot which the keeper grabbed at chest height. At the top end, MacNab turned smartly on the edge of the box and thumped a shot just wide.
Brandon Sinclair, in his first start for Academy this season, produced an impressive goal-saving tackle just as Macrae looked set to slip the ball into the net, then it was Andy Hardwick's turn to intervene with a goal-line clearance as Wick kept battling away.
Brora had gone into the tie after a difficult spell which saw defeats to Fraserburgh and Formartine United either side of Steven Mackay's resignation as manager.
Interim manager Craig Campbell said he was relieved to see Brora get back to winning ways.
“We know what it's like coming up here," Campbell said. "It doesn't matter what sort of form both teams are in, it's always a bit of a battle between us and Wick, so I'm delighted to get a clean sheet after losing sloppy goals again at the weekend.
“I thought we defended pretty well towards the end, winning headers and showing a bit of character. I would have liked to have been more comfortable in the game, obviously, and I thought we should have had a penalty to make it a little bit more comfortable.
“To be fair to Gordie [referee Gordon Morrison] he's an honest guy and he said he made a mistake at the end, so a lot of respect to him for admitting that.
“But overall we'll take that – a clean sheet and through to the next round. It's a pleasing night and hopefully we can push forward from this.”
Brora will be at home to Lossiemouth in the last four following the Coasters' 4-1 victory over Fort William. Strathspey Thistle were 4-0 winners away to Clachnacuddin, while Rothes beat Elgin City 2-0 in the other quarter-final.
Wick Academy: Williamson, Sinclair, R Allan, Hardwick, Halliday, Henry, R Campbell, D Allan, S Campbell (Hughes 82), MacNab, Anderson (M Macadie 72). Subs not used: Manson, Bain, C Farquhar, More.
Brora Rangers: Malin, Pickles, Macdonald (Gamble 33), Williamson, Nicolson, Gillespie, Kelly, Meekings (J MacRae 73), Wright (Riddle 83), A Macrae, MacDonald. Sub not used: Stephen
Referee: Gordon Morrison.
One lucky break could provide the spark for Wick Academy to go on a winning run.
That's the view of manager Gary Manson ahead of Saturday's Highland League match at home to Turriff United.
After drawing with Forres Mechanics, Strathspey Thistle and Clachnacuddin in their opening three league games, the Scorries were beaten 2-1 at Lossiemouth on Saturday before going out of the North of Scotland Cup in midweek.
Speaking after Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Brora, Manson said: “The way things are going, we just need that one little lucky break. It falls to our guy in the box, he puts it in the net, and then things will snowball and momentum will build.
“We just need to get that first win, get that monkey off our backs, and I'm more than confident that more wins will follow once we get that first win – hopefully on Saturday.”
There was more bad news on the injury front as Manson confirmed that captain Alan Farquhar faces a long spell on the sidelines after hurting a knee in the first half at Lossie.
“He went up for a header, twisted his knee and heard a crack," Manson said. "He has not had a scan yet but the initial diagnosis is quite bad so we'll not see him for a few months, I don't think.”
Farquhar joins Richard Macadie on the long-term injury list.
Teenage defender Joe Anderson is likely to be back in the squad for the Turriff game.
