Patience pays off for Academy
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WICK Academy had to be patient before booking their place in the last eight of the Highland League Cup with three second-half goals at Fort William on Saturday.
Jack Halliday, Richard Macadie and Davie Allan were on target as the Scorries set up a quarter-final tie at home to Forres Mechanics that will take place on December 8.
Perennial strugglers Fort showed dogged determination but Academy didn't allow frustration to get the better of them and the outcome was never in doubt after Halliday made the breakthrough after 65 minutes.
Wick manager Tom McKenna said: "I thought the lads were brilliant. We came up against a side that parked the bus.
"Fort William had 10 bodies behind the ball for most of the game and they made it very difficult for us to break them down.
"We created around umpteen chances, we dominated possession and yet we were met by this barrier of Fort William players.
"I'm not knocking their game plan at all. You have to give Fort William credit as they were very well organised, they never stopped running and I'm sure they'll collect points.
"The patience our lads showed was superb. It would have been so easy for frustration to creep in but it didn't.
"We played in the right areas of the park in order to keep the pressure on them.
"Once we got the first goal, though, we were never in doubt that we were going to win. There was a wee sigh of relief on the touchline as it's always in the back of your mind when you play well and don't score that it's going to be one of those days and the opposition are going to pinch one on the break.
"We were not really under pressure but we showed our professionalism and displayed great patience throughout."