Scorries blown off course by Vale
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
WICK ACADEMY 0
DEVERONVALE 2
IN their first outing since the announcement of a sponsorship deal with the Beatrice offshore wind farm, the Scorries found themselves all at sea. They were blown off course by a Deveronvale side that was streetwise, well organised and clinical in front of goal as strikes from Grant Noble and Dane Ballard, one in each half, made sure of the points.
Academy huffed and puffed, but despite stepping up the pressure in the closing stages, they never really looked like staging a comeback.
It came as an anti-climax after three wins in which they had banged in 17 goals and following on from news of the two-year deal with Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd as main sponsor.
The early signs were promising enough. A quick passing move created an opening for Craig Gunn but he blazed his shot over the bar, then a free kick from Gary Manson caused a momentary problem for keeper Errol Watson as it squirmed away from him.
On 10 minutes Davie Allan beat the offside trap but was forced wide and his shot flew over.
Play became increasingly scrappy and Academy found it difficult to penetrate Vale’s five at the back.
At the top end Ballard sent a glancing header wide, then Sean McCarthy was almost left red-faced when his poor kick-out went straight to the opposition. The Wick keeper made amends by blocking Noble’s low effort.
Vale went ahead in 36 minutes when Leszek Nowosielski set Noble free in the inside-left channel and he lashed an unstoppable shot past McCarthy.
There was a let-off for Academy three minutes before the break when Matthew Wallace looked certain to score only for McCarthy to pull off a brilliant save.
The Banff outfit doubled their lead six minutes into the second half with another well-taken goal.
Noble chipped the ball forward to Ballard and the quick-thinking striker lofted it over McCarthy.
Wick supporters were shouting for greater urgency. Allan managed to break clear into the box and he found Sam Mackay, whose low drive was kept out by Watson.
Jack Halliday delivered the ball into the danger zone but there was no-one to take advantage, then a Richard Macadie cross was turned over by Jack Henry.
Finally there were signs of Academy’s passing game coming to life, and Allan showed great trickery only to see his effort on goal bounce off the crossbar.
A good old-fashioned stramash occurred in the Vale box but no-one was able to apply a decisive touch. By then it was obvious this just wasn’t going to be Academy’s day. The mood was summed up when the tireless Allan chased a long pass, was unable to reach it before it rolled out of play, and promptly blasted the ball against an advertising hoarding in frustration.
Wick Academy: McCarthy, Manson, Farquhar, D Mackay, G Steven, Henry, Gunn (Hardwick 79), Halliday, MacNab (S Mackay 46), Macadie, D Allan. Subs not used: G Mackay, More.
Deveronvale: Watson, Dunbar, Noble, Aitken, Dunn, Adams, Nowosielski (Robertson 90), MacLennan, Ballard (Scott 84), Wallace, Noble (Gauld 76). Subs not used: Willox, Blanchard.
Referee: Billy Baxter.
