Scorries can't rely on one Gunn to fire in goals
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WICK Academy boss Tom McKenna has issued a rallying call to his strikers to join hitman Craig Gunn at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Gunn, who has been in red-hot form this season, is the Highland League's top scorer after his strike in Academy's 3-1 loss at Rothes took his tally for the 2019/20 campaign to 12 goals.
However, despite the Scorries creating a number of chances, Gunn's one was the only time the ball hit the back of the net with a whole host of opportunities being spurned.
The Speysiders found their way past Academy's defence three times with Fraser Robertson, Allen Mackenzie and Craig Cormack on the scoresheet.
While Gunn's excellent form has been a boon for Wick, there does appear to be an over-reliance on him – something Mckenna is keen to address.
"We can't just rely on one person," the manager said. "Craig, as I've said before, has been fantastic for us this season and looking like his old self.
"His goal on Saturday was him once again being at the right place at the right time and that's something good strikers have an instinct for.
"Craig is top of the goalscoring charts but we do need others to join him. We played well at Rothes and created some good chances.
"But the final scoreline tells its own story. They scored three times and, while you could argue that all three came during periods of play when we were on top, the fact is that when they got their chances they took them.
"Admittedly their keeper made some good saves and played well. However, despite having much more of the ball than they did, there is little point in dominating possession if you don't put the ball in the back of the net."
"Their manager [Ross Jack] – and he wasn't being patronising, I can assure you – came up to me afterwards and complimented us for how we played. Unfortunately, we didn't take our chances."
Rothes, when they got their opportunities, were much more clinical in front of goal and were content to keep Wick at bay once they went 2-0 up.
McKenna added: "Yes, they hit us on the break three times but there's nothing you can take away from them for doing that because they were more ruthless than us when they got their chances.
"Perhaps we could have been tighter in defence but going in at half-time 2-0 down left us with a mountain to climb.
"We battered them in the second half but went back up the road with nothing to show for it.
"The one positive we can take from this is that our performance was much better than the one at Huntly the previous week."
