Rothes will be ‘difficult proposition’
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WICK Academy’s attacking players will have to be on top form if they are to bring back three points on Saturday.
Manager Davie Kirkwood said that Rothes will be a different prospect to the side they faced in previous seasons.
The Scorries will be making their second visit to Speyside after defeating Strathspey Thistle 3-1 in Grantown on Saturday.
A win for either side could see them go top depending on other results.
Kirkwood said that he has a lot of respect for what Rothes have achieved this season, but a win is a must. "The results in the last four weeks have told me every thing I need to know about them," he said. "You can’t compare Rothes with the side that we beat twice last year.
"They’ve made a vast improvement and have already proved that they are a difficult proposition."
Wick will be without wing back Michael Steven who is suspended after being sent off for allegedly throwing a punch at Fraser Tulloch during Saturday’s game
Despite this Kirkwood has no injury worries and he said he will be looking for his forwards to make the difference.
"I will be looking for a performance from the entire squad as the defence will also have to be on top form, he explained.
"Rothes have been defensively very good and have been grinding out some great wins.
"It will be a tough game and we will have to find a way of breaking them down.
"But confidence is high throughout the team and we’ve made a good start to the season. We’ve been playing well in our first four games and will look to do that again on Saturday."
Rothes are having one of their best starts to the Highland League in years after also picking up seven points from their first four games.
So far they have gained shock wins on the road against Turriff United and Inverurie Locos.
Manager Graham MacBeath said that despite still having a relatively young squad, they are not short of experience.
"It took us until Christmas to pick up seven points last season," he said. "The majority of our players are still quite young, but have been in the first team for a couple of seasons.
"There is a growing confidence in the side and we will be looking to maintain that throughout the campaign."
He added: "We are much more defensively aware this season. We’ve managed to keep three clean sheets in our first four games and we have managed to limit top league sides to very few shots.
"Wick is one of the better sides in the league and we will look to do the same against them." The Speysiders have a few players out but are boosted by the return of Steven Robertson and Shaun MacInnes, who come back to the squad from work commitments offshore.
MacBeath is also hopeful that he will be able to add another striker in time for Saturday. "The incentive for us is that if we win, we go above Wick," he said.
"Davie Kirkwood believes in a philosophy of attractive football and it’s no surprise that he has made a good start with the players he has available.
"Both teams are in the same position knowing if we win we could be top of the league. It will be a great game and a test I am looking forward to taking on."
