Our pace and power can hurt Brora, says Wick manager
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Manager Gary Manson insists Wick Academy have the pace and power to cause problems for Highland League Cup winners Brora Rangers.
The Scorries travel to Dudgeon Park on Saturday, hoping to beat their old rivals in a Highland League match for the first time since December 2012.
Manson pointed out that his players have shown they can be a match for Brora, while acknowledging that the Cattachs will have been boosted by their cup final shootout victory over Fraserburgh last weekend.
Wick’s six-game unbeaten home run came to an end on Saturday when they were edged out 2-1 by leaders Brechin City.
“Brora will be buoyed by their cup win, obviously,” Manson said. “It may give them a new lease of life in the remaining games of the season.
“It's a derby as well, so anything can happen. We'll go down and we'll try to be as competitive as we can.
“We'll see what we can do and if we can nick a win then all the better.”
The teams drew 0-0 at Harmsworth Park in February. Academy played with 10 men for more than half an hour after Gordon MacNab was sent off, yet they could have snatched victory in the dying stages.
At the time, Manson described it as a point gained, bearing in mind the red card and Brora's higher position in the table.
He said, though: “We had that glorious chance right at the death and you do come away thinking it should have been a win.
“But listen, a win against them is going to come sooner or later. It's just a case of when.
“I think we've shown in the last couple of years that in certain games we can match them.
“You just have to stay competitive in the game for as long as you can and then hit them on the counter. We've got a lot of pace and a lot of power up front, and we can hurt teams.
“We'll try to go down with that game plan and see what happens.”
Brora were held to a 3-3 draw by Deveronvale on Wednesday night in a match that was switched to Golspie after Dudgeon Park failed a pitch inspection.
Wick Academy will face away trips to Pitmedden and Forres on successive Wednesdays this month after the latest Highland League fixture changes.
The Scorries had been due to play Forres Mechanics this midweek but it was called off as Mosset Park was waterlogged. The match has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 17.
Academy will be away to Formartine United on Wednesday, April 10, with the game having been brought forward from Saturday, May 4, at the request of both clubs.
In between the Formartine and Forres trips, Academy will be at home to Keith on Saturday, April 13. Gary Manson’s side face the Maroons again on Saturday, April 27, this time at Kynoch Park.
Their last home game of the season is against Banks O’ Dee on Saturday, April 20.
The Scorries are off to Dudgeon Park this Saturday to take on Brora Rangers, who won the Highland League Cup last weekend.
Results: Saturday – Highland League: Clachnacuddin 1, Banks O' Dee 0; Deveronvale 0, Buckie Thistle 0; Forres Mechanics 0, Formartine United 4; Keith 1, Huntly 0; Strathspey Thistle 0, Nairn County 4; Turriff United 0, Lossiemouth 0; Wick Academy 1, Brechin City 2. Highland League Cup final: Brora Rangers 1, Fraserburgh 1 (Brora won 5-4 on penalties).
Wednesday: Brora Rangers 3, Deveronvale 3 (at Golspie).
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, April 6: Banks O' Dee v Huntly; Brora Rangers v Wick Academy; Clachnacuddin v Lossiemouth; Deveronvale v Inverurie Locos; Fraserburgh v Brechin City; Keith v Buckie Thistle; Nairn County v Formartine United; Rothes v Forres Mechanics; Turriff United v Strathspey Thistle (all 3pm).
