Rendall red card was a 'nonsense' decision, insists Wick manager Gary Manson
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Wick Academy manager Gary Manson was incensed by the straight red card shown to Owen Rendall during Saturday's Highland League clash with Buckie Thistle.
The Scorries were 3-2 behind at Victoria Park and pushing for an equaliser when the 25-year-old defender from Orkney was given his marching orders by referee Harry Bruce with about a quarter of an hour to go.
The Jags scored twice in the closing 10 minutes to run out 5-2 winners.
The red card came as Buckie's Max Barry made contact with Rendall after Academy had been awarded a free kick.
"It was a nonsense of a sending off," Manson declared afterwards. "Owen Rendall had the ball and was going to be taking a free kick and their guy kind of came barging into him.
"Owen just brushed him away with his right arm and the referee came and flashed a red card without even thinking about it.
"He [the referee] said to me afterwards that he struck him. Watching the video back, he certainly did not strike him.
"He brushed him away with his arm, that's as bad as it was, and he has been sent off for violent conduct. There was nothing violent about it.
"That just spoiled the game as a contest with 15 minutes to go and we got hit by two sucker punches."
Marc Macgregor had given Academy a fifth-minute lead, slotting home after a cross from Kyle Henderson.
Buckie responded with goals from Josh Peters, Jack Murray and Jack MacIver to lead 3-1 at the break.
Jack Halliday reduced the deficit three minutes into the second half when he ran onto a through ball and found the bottom corner.
After the sending off, Buckie made the points safe with another goal from Peters before Sam Morrison completed the scoring.
Manson said: "We were 3-1 down at half-time but the first half was quite competitive so we knew we were still in the game.
"In the second half we should have scored before we did. When we got our second goal it looked like there was only one team going to get the next goal, and it would have been us.
"It was a really competitive game and we gave as good as we got, scored two good goals and could have had another couple at the start of the second half.
"Everything was looking good and then the sending off just spoiled it."
Buckie remain third, behind Brechin City and Formartine United, while Academy are 13th.
Buckie manager Graeme Stewart said: “No disrespect to Wick but they average one [goal] a game, so for them to score two against us is really disappointing.
“The goals we gave them were mistakes from us and I have been saying to the boys how we need to cut out the individual errors. It’s something we really will have to address.”
Clachnacuddin found themselves 3-0 down at half-time against bottom side Strathspey Thistle before producing a remarkable comeback to salvage a point in a 4-4 draw at Grant Street Park.
An injury-time equaliser from Connor Bunce prevented the Lilywhites dropping to the foot of the table.
North of Scotland Cup winners Nairn County needed a stoppage-time penalty to beat Forres Mechanics 2-1 at Station Park.
Nairn took the lead through George Robesten, but Forres looked to have rescued a point when Craig Mackenzie scored six minutes from the end – only for Andrew Macleod to get a second for Nairn from the penalty spot.
Nairn, who have won their last five league games, visit Harmsworth Park this Saturday.
Brechin City moved to the top of the league after a 3-0 victory at Turriff.
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 2, Formartine United 1; Brora Rangers 3, Huntly 0; Buckie Thistle 5, Wick Academy 2; Clachnacuddin 4, Strathspey Thistle 4; Deveronvale 3, Lossiemouth 1; Keith 1, Inverurie Locos 2; Nairn County 2, Forres Mechanics 1; Rothes 0, Fraserburgh 3; Turriff United 0, Brechin City 3.
Highland League fixtures for Wednesday: Brechin City v Keith; Clachnacuddin v Nairn County; Forres Mechanics v Inverurie Locos; Rothes v Deveronvale; Strathspey Thistle v Huntly; Turriff United v Banks O' Dee.
Saturday – Highland League: Brechin City v Fraserburgh; Forres Mechanics v Rothes; Huntly v Banks O' Dee; Inverurie Locos v Deveronvale; Lossiemouth v Clachnacuddin; Strathspey Thistle v Turriff United; Wick Academy v Nairn County
Scottish Cup, third round: Brora Rangers v Pollok; Broxburn Athletic v Buckie Thistle; Falkirk v Formartine United.
