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Saving penalties is a ‘guessing game’, insists Wick keeper





Goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher saves Ross Logan's penalty for Rothes to keep Wick Academy in front in the first half at Harmsworth Park. Picture: Mel Roger
Goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher saves Ross Logan's penalty for Rothes to keep Wick Academy in front in the first half at Harmsworth Park. Picture: Mel Roger

Wick Academy’s mission against Rothes on Saturday was to “get three points at all costs”, according to goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher.

The 21-year-old played his full part in the 4-0 Highland League victory and pulled off a brilliant penalty save in the first half when there was only one goal in it.

It was a timely result for the Scorries after they dropped into the bottom three following a poor run. They are now six points ahead of Rothes and seven points better off than bottom club Strathspey Thistle.

Ahead of the game, manager Gary Manson had said he wanted his players to take out their frustration on the Speysiders and complete a league double over them in the process.

“That was the message going into it – go out and get three points at all costs,” Gallacher said.

“I’m delighted, the boys are delighted, and I hope we can take this into the next few games.”

George Ewing opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with his first goal for the senior team.

Three minutes later Gallacher preserved the Scorries’ advantage when he dived to his right to save Ross Logan’s penalty.

Second-half headers by Jack Henry and Marc Macgregor extended Wick’s lead before Euan Kennedy, on loan from Ross County, struck in stoppage time with his first Highland League goal.

Seven teenagers featured for Academy – Ewing and Matthew Robertson in the starting line-up, along with substitutes Kennedy, Matthew Aitkenhead, Arran Bain, Owen Bain and Jayden Bremner. The last three were making their debuts.

“It just shows how well the boys in the youth system are doing, and the coaches,” Gallacher said. “I don’t think anyone looked out of place.

“It shows they can match the standard, and that can only be a good thing.”

It is not the first time Gallacher has produced spot-kick heroics at the South Road end of Harmsworth Park.

In a man-of-the-match display in the 2022 Highland Amateur Cup final, he kept out two of Pentland United’s penalties in the shootout to help High Ormlie Hotspur win the trophy for the first time.

He had done the same in a shootout with Golspie Stafford in the quarter-finals.

However, when asked about the secret of his success at saving penalties, he replied: “There’s no secret – it’s a guessing game!”

Gallacher, who is studying to become a PE teacher, signed for Academy in December just as it was announced that the club’s regular number one, Graeme Williamson, was leaving to take up a new job in the south.

The last time Academy had a 4-0 victory in a Highland League match was away to Keith on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, although they also won by that scoreline against North Caledonian League side Invergordon in this season’s North of Scotland Cup.

Rothes were awarded a spot-kick for this alleged trip on Jake Thomson by Wick's Marc Coghill. Picture: Mel Roger
Rothes were awarded a spot-kick for this alleged trip on Jake Thomson by Wick's Marc Coghill. Picture: Mel Roger

Lossiemouth kept themselves above Wick Academy on goal difference with a 2-0 Moray derby success at home to Keith.

Second-half goals by Shaun Cameron and Matty Nicol made it back-to-back wins and clean sheets for the Coasters, who had beaten Strathspey Thistle by the same score the previous week.

Lossie and Academy are now within five points of Keith in 14th place.

Fraserburgh went from playing Glasgow Rangers one week to Brora Rangers the next. After their plucky display at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup, the Broch returned to league action with a 3-2 victory over the Cattachs at Dudgeon Park.

Bryan Hay got a late winner for Fraserburgh, whose other goals came from Fraser Mackie and Aidan Sopel. Mark Nicolson and Michael Finnis scored for Brora.

Turriff United, Wick Academy’s next opponents, showed what they are capable of with a 5-3 comeback victory over Huntly at Christie Park.

Clachnacuddin’s fine season continued with a 2-1 victory away to champions Buckie Thistle.

A disputed penalty by Aidan Wilson handed Inverurie Locos a 1-0 win against Forres Mechanics at Mosset Park.

Brechin City’s match at Strathspey fell victim to the weather, while Formartine United’s clash with Nairn County was called off due to a power outage at North Lodge Park.

Highland League results: Brora Rangers 2, Fraserburgh 3; Buckie Thistle 1, Clachnacuddin 2; Deveronvale 0, Banks O’ Dee 2; Forres Mechanics 0, Inverurie Locos 1; Huntly 3, Turriff United 5; Lossiemouth 2, Keith 0; Wick Academy 4, Rothes 0.

Fixtures – Saturday, February 1: Banks O’ Dee v Buckie Thistle; Clachnacuddin v Brechin City; Fraserburgh v Forres Mechanics; Huntly v Brora Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Formartine United; Keith v Strathspey Thistle; Nairn County v Lossiemouth; Rothes v Deveronvale; Turriff United v Wick Academy.


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