Polish target as Academy powers past Orkney side
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Wick Academy 4, Orkney AFA 0
Scorers: S. Mackay (51, 62), G. Steven (55), Weir (69).
FOUR goals in a devastating 18-minute spell maintained Wick Academy’s 100 per cent pre-season record against an Orcadian side that caused them few problems.
Thurso FC striker Lukasz Geruzel played as a trialist for the Scorries, fuelling speculation that he could be set to leave the Dammies before Wick play Strathspey in their opening league encounter in August.
The Polish striker made an impression straight from the kick-off when he played a short pass into the box to Davie Allan who sent an inviting cross into the box which went abegging.
Richard Macadie made his first start of the season and could have scored on the 23rd minute when he was through on goal but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Darren MacLean nicked the ball off his toes and cleared the danger.
After a frustrating first half, home manager Davie Kirkwood made three changes for the start of the second half with James More, Sam Mackay and Ross Allan coming on for Michael Gray, Stevie Cunningham and Stuart Florence.
It took 51 minutes for the Scorries to break the deadlock when a long ball caught out the Orkney back-line and Mackay got onto the end of it 20 yards from goal and lobbed over the goalkeeper with a crisp half-volley.
This was followed within the space of a minute with two attempts from Davie Allan and Geruzel both coming off the woodwork as Academy pushed to increase their lead.
Academy’s second however was not long in the making as Grant Steven pounced on a loose ball in the middle of the Orkney penalty area and he made no mistake in slotting home.
Wick were now starting to control the game and their third came in the 62nd minute. Macadie was released down the left flank and delivered the ball to the feet of Mackay who strolled into the box, committed keeper Bain and slotted home into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the game.
Davie Allan was substituted for Gary Weir a minute later and within six minutes of being on the park, Weir received the ball with back to goal in the middle of the Orkney penalty area and turned on a dime to blast home.
Orkney’s threat had been limited to a few long-range attempts until the last attacking move of the match when James Pickles hit a belter of a curling shot 20 yards from goal and it looked destined for the top corner but just shaved the outside of the post.
Wick Academy continues its pre-season with a match against Aberdeen Under-20s tonight which kicks off at Harmsworth Park at 7.45pm.
