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Scorries boss unhappy with performance – despite victory


By Matt Leslie

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Wick Academy winger Alan Hughes rides a tackle from Turriff's Michael Ewen during the Scorries' 2-0 win on Saturday. Picture: Mel Roger
Wick Academy winger Alan Hughes rides a tackle from Turriff's Michael Ewen during the Scorries' 2-0 win on Saturday. Picture: Mel Roger

Wick boss Tom McKenna was not happy with his team's display despite their 2-0 win at home to Turriff United on Saturday.

Goals from Craig Gunn and Jack Halliday wrapped up the Scorries' first home win of the Highland League campaign – but, against a visiting side intent on a defensive strategy, Academy made hard work of plotting a route to goal.

While the three points were secured, McKenna insists his men must step up to the mark and perform better as other opposing teams will present more of a challenge in the weeks to come.

"We had to be very patient out there today," he said. "It's three points for us but that wasn't our best performance and the players are in agreement with that.

"The constant offside calls were bizarre. I counted seven alone in the first half. I did tell the boys at half-time to check the line and maybe time their runs, but that didn't seem to have an effect.

"Is that something we have to work on? Maybe, but that linesman did appear at times to be rather too keen to raise his flag. Thankfully, this did not affect the result.

"The first 20 minutes was good. We started off positively and got an early goal. Then all that fizzled out and, because Turriff didn't ask us a lot of questions, we probably dropped to their level.

"We do have a tendency to do that, and we must try and be better and more professional in our performances.

"It's a mental thing. If you're not being challenged by the opposition, you have to challenge yourself and raise yourself above that."

The game started half an hour late because of traffic problems affecting the Turriff team bus.

"I don't think the delayed kick-off affected us," McKenna said. "I take the point that we would have been getting ready to start on time only to have an extra half-hour but I don't feel it affected us too greatly.

"If anything, it may have affected Turriff as they were the ones who were delayed in coming up here.

If you're not being challenged by the opposition, you have to challenge yourself and raise yourself above that

"The lads were probably jaded as we didn't have a game last week.

"At the end of the day, we have three points and I'm sure we'll be happier with ourselves when we see the league table looking better than it did last week.

"Over the season it will balance itself out. There have been times since I've been here when we've played really well and come out with nothing. On this occasion, we were not at our best and won.

"We did lack an end product. We were getting behind them and putting in crosses but nobody has been brave enough to get in the box.

"Overall it was a bad day. We looked tired and we need to pick ourselves up. We got the three points but we can play better."

Turriff boss Kris Hunter refused to use the delayed kick-off as an excuse for their defeat.

"I can't really blame the bus delay but we did look a wee bit leggy out there," he said.

"Maybe we should have had a penalty in the first half but we were disappointing today. But that's where we're at just now.

"This is a hard place to come and maybe the travelling – not to mention the delay – affected the young players who were making their first trip up here.

"However, they've got it out of the way now and will know how to handle it when we're next up here."


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