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No way back for Wick Academy after ‘highly preventable’ first-half goals





Wick Academy's Euan Kennedy breaks away from Alasdair Stark of Banks O' Dee at Spain Park. Picture: Mel Roger
Wick Academy's Euan Kennedy breaks away from Alasdair Stark of Banks O' Dee at Spain Park. Picture: Mel Roger

Wick Academy were left to rue a series of missed opportunities on Saturday that could have led to a much closer scoreline than the 4-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Banks O’ Dee.

Manager Gary Manson counted up to five decent chances for his side in the second period as the Scorries tried to battle back from a three-goal half-time deficit at Spain Park.

They couldn’t find a way through and the home side added a late fourth – consigning Academy to an eighth consecutive loss in all competitions.

Manson’s men dropped one place to 16th in the Highland League table after Lossiemouth took all three points at home to bottom club Strathspey Thistle.

Mark Gilmour opened the scoring for third-placed Banks O’ Dee after two minutes and Liam Duell doubled their advantage from the penalty spot on the 20-minute mark.

The third came from Max Alexander on 28 minutes, with Lachie MacLeod rounding off the scoring in stoppage time.

Manson said: “The message just before the game was to not give away anything cheap in the first five or 10 minutes, and feel your way into the game. It wasn’t to be.

“The first two goals were really sloppy on our part, highly preventable. When you go down there and gift them a couple of goals then you’re always up against it.

“In the first half they were well worthy of their lead, possibly not 3-0, but they were the better team in the first half.

Kane Winton of Banks O' Dee walks away grinning after leaving Wick Academy keeper Lewis Gallacher stretched out following an elbow to the jaw. Picture: Mel Roger
Kane Winton of Banks O' Dee walks away grinning after leaving Wick Academy keeper Lewis Gallacher stretched out following an elbow to the jaw. Picture: Mel Roger

“I said to the boys at half-time, it could go either way here in the second half – you could down tools and chuck it and we walk away with a heavy, heavy defeat, or you roll your sleeves up and you stick together and you go out and give a good account of yourselves in the second half.

“In the second half I thought we were really good and how we never walked away with at least two goals I’ll never know.

“We knew we were going to get chances off them. They defend really high. We were speaking about it all week and showing the boys clips.

“We thought we were going to get chances on the break and that’s exactly what happened in the second half. We had four or five really clear-cut chances and they just didn’t show enough composure and quality when those chances arrived.

“We went out and took the game to them.

“It’s where we are at the moment, I’m afraid. We’re on a really bad run. These things happen and it’s up to us to try and fix that on Saturday.”

Academy take on second-bottom Rothes at Harmsworth Park this weekend.

Lossiemouth and Wick are both on 13 points from 21 games but the Coasters have a better goal difference. Rothes are on 10 points, one point ahead of Strathspey.

There was a minute’s applause before kick-off at Spain Park as a tribute to Denis Law following the death of the Scottish football legend at the age of 84. It was especially fitting given that the match was played in Law’s home city of Aberdeen.

Owen Harrold (Wick Academy) tussles with Liam Duell (Banks O' Dee). Picture: Mel Roger
Owen Harrold (Wick Academy) tussles with Liam Duell (Banks O' Dee). Picture: Mel Roger

Wick Academy manager Gary Manson felt that Fraserburgh did the Highland League proud in their Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Rangers.

Broch ended up losing 5-0 at Ibrox on Sunday but there was only one goal in it at half-time and the Buchan club’s record scorer Scott Barbour almost grabbed an equaliser with a shot from a tight angle that went wide.

Manson said: “Fraserburgh defended admirably, certainly in the first half, and restricted Rangers to very few clear-cut chances. I did think that with the ball they could have done a little bit better. I think they were just a bit nervous on the big stage when they actually got possession.

“In terms of giving a good account of themselves, they certainly did that. The icing on the cake would have been if Scott Barbour had managed to squeeze that chance in.

“They certainly did the league and themselves proud, so they can hold their heads up high.”

Wick Academy and Rangers are the only two clubs this season to have beaten Fraserburgh while keeping a clean sheet.

Academy won 2-0 when Broch visited Harmsworth Park on the opening day of the Highland League campaign. In addition to Sunday’s 5-0 loss in Glasgow, Fraserburgh were beaten by the same score when they took on Rangers “B” in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Wick Academy defender Owen Rendall at full stretch in an attempt to block a shot from Liam Duell. Picture: Mel Roger
Wick Academy defender Owen Rendall at full stretch in an attempt to block a shot from Liam Duell. Picture: Mel Roger

Lewis McAndrew and Shaun Cameron got the goals as Lossiemouth moved four points clear of the foot of the table with a 2-0 home victory over Strathspey Thistle. It was Lossie’s first win in nearly four months.

Calum Frame scored a hat-trick for Forres Mechanics as they hammered Nairn County 5-1 at Station Park to move above their local rivals.

Rothes remain a point above Strathspey after they were thumped 6-1 by Huntly at Mackessack Park.

Huntly’s goals came from Angus Grant (2), Kai Watson, Sam Robertson, Ross Still and James Connelly. Ross Logan replied for the Speysiders.

With Brechin City on Scottish Cup duty, Brora Rangers took over at the top of the table after Wallace Duffy’s stoppage-time goal sealed a 3-2 victory over Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park.

Gary Pullen made his first start for the Cattachs after his recent move from Wick Academy.

Fourth-placed Clachnacuddin eased to a 7-0 victory over Deveronvale at Grant Street Park with goals by James Anderson, Andy Macrae, Scott Davidson (2), Jack Davison, Rorie Macleod and Troy Cooper.

Keith were beaten 3-1 at home by Formartine United.

Wick Academy goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher punches clear during Saturday's game at Spain Park. Picture: Mel Roger
Wick Academy goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher punches clear during Saturday's game at Spain Park. Picture: Mel Roger

Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 4, Wick Academy 0; Clachnacuddin 7, Deveronvale 0; Inverurie Locos 2, Brora Rangers 3; Keith 1, Formartine United 3; Lossiemouth 2, Strathspey Thistle 0; Nairn County 1, Forres Mechanics 5; Rothes 1, Huntly 6.

Scottish Cup (ties involving Highland League clubs): Brechin City 1, Hearts 4; Rangers 5, Fraserburgh 0.

Highland League fixtures – Friday, January 24: Deveronvale v Banks O’ Dee. Saturday, January 25: Brora Rangers v Fraserburgh; Buckie Thistle v Clachnacuddin; Formartine United v Nairn County; Forres Mechanics v Inverurie Locos; Huntly v Turriff United; Lossiemouth v Keith; Strathspey Thistle v Brechin City; Wick Academy v Rothes.

Saturday, February 1: Banks O’ Dee v Buckie Thistle; Clachnacuddin v Brechin City; Fraserburgh v Forres Mechanics; Huntly v Brora Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Formartine United; Keith v Strathspey Thistle; Nairn County v Lossiemouth; Rothes v Deveronvale; Turriff United v Wick Academy.


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