Scorries breach Fort with four-goal salvo
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Wick Academy manager Tom McKenna was delighted with his team's four-goal salvo to break down Fort William but admitted: "It could have been more."
Following the early setback of going a goal behind to Gabriel Hastings' strike at Claggan Park on Saturday, the Scorries came roaring back with Jack Halliday, Craig Gunn, Davie Allan and Jonah Martens all netting for a 4-1 win.
The victory moved them up to eighth in the Highland League, above Keith on goal difference and three points behind Nairn County.
A number of loanees from Inverness Caley Thistle's youth ranks have helped Fort William improve this season but those from Wick expecting a tough assignment came away surprised at how easy it turned out to be.
Fort's season so far, however, has been one of peaks and troughs and Academy clearly got them on a day when they had fallen back to starting point.
McKenna said: "Prior to Fort William scoring their goal, we could have been six or seven nil up.
"That is no exaggeration. We got off the blocks very quickly and were creating some good chances.
"Then Fort William get a set-piece opportunity and, fair play to them, they took their chance to take the lead.
When he's on form, he's one of the top keepers in the league.
"Of course you're thinking at this point 'here we go again' and you see so often when teams go a goal down after dominating the game, they just deflate.
"Thankfully, the boys kept their composure and just carried on as before and knocked in two goals before half-time.
"We should have gone out at battered them in the second half but we were a wee bit lethargic before Davie Allan got the third."
One remarkable factor from the game was that Academy played with a makeshift back four with regulars such as Alan Farquhar and Grant Steven missing.
McKenna added: "Because of injuries and work commitments, we had to shuffle some players out of position.
"We had Craig Gunn [a striker] playing at right-back, Ryan Campbell having to slot in at left-back, and our centre-half pairing was Gary Manson and Ross Allan.
"They all did what was asked of them, which shows the attitude levels and commitment that they have. Plus they were well backed up by our goalkeeper Sean McCarthy who made some great saves.
"Sean will be the first to admit he's not been his old self of late but he sets himself high standards and he was reaching those. When he's on form, he's one of the top keepers in the league."
Another plus for McKenna was the arrival from the bench of striker Jonah Martens who came on to score his first Highland League goal.
He added: "Jonah got off the mark in the league and here's hoping that it is the first of many goals for us.
"He's still very raw and has a lot to learn, but he has shown he's got an eye for goal – as fans of Lybster will know – and he's very direct.
"Once he fully finds his feet in the Highland League, he can be a very good player at this level."
