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Scorries fall in derby defeat despite battling performance


By Matt Leslie

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Wick Academy.... 0

Brora Rangers.... 1

(Dale Gillespie, 29)

Sean McCarthy's attempt to stop Dale Gillespie's rocket from outside the box is in vain as the ball flies into the net during Wick's 1-0 home defeat to Brora. Picture: Mel Roger
Sean McCarthy's attempt to stop Dale Gillespie's rocket from outside the box is in vain as the ball flies into the net during Wick's 1-0 home defeat to Brora. Picture: Mel Roger

A battling display from Wick Academy in Saturday's Highland League derby was undone by a fleeting moment of quality and an agonising last-gasp miss.

For much of the match at Harmsworth Park title-chasing Brora Rangers were frustrated by the Scorries' game plan, but Dale Gillespie needed only half a second on the ball to crash home the winner from outside the box.

Had Jack Halliday been more accurate when a chance came his way right at the end, he could have buried the visitors' march up the table – but instead Academy were denied by the woodwork.

It was a shame that Halliday's day should be marked by that injury-time miss as up until then he had run his socks off in midfield chasing down every ball and had not given his Brora counterparts a moment's peace.

There was a blow for Wick on the morning of the game with attacker Davie Allan having to go to hospital following stomach pains. The Scorries also had to deploy top scorer Craig Gunn at right-back.

No doubt mindful of the 6-0 North of Scotland Cup hiding at Dudgeon Park earlier in the season, Academy proceeded to cut off any space the visitors craved. They simply were not given time to settle as Wick harried and hustled throughout, with Halliday and Jack Henry stifling Brora's midfield.

Wick Academy's makeshift right-back Craig Gunn slides in to steal the ball from Brora's Paul Brindle. Picture: Mel Roger
Wick Academy's makeshift right-back Craig Gunn slides in to steal the ball from Brora's Paul Brindle. Picture: Mel Roger

Gunn was also outstanding in his right-back role. Brora winger Paul Brindle must have wondered what he'd done in a previous life to deserve an out-of-position striker playing out of his skin at right-back.

Jonah Martens had been in red-hot form for Caithness AFA side Lybster during the summer but the gap separating that level of football and the Highland League was painfully evident here. Martens couldn't be faulted for effort but the experience and savvy of Brora's back four ensured he would get little change from them.

There were few chances in a game in which both sides were hell-bent on cancelling each other out. For the Scorries' pressing game to work, it needed to be carried out for 90 minutes.

Just before the half-hour mark, though, there was a blip. Having denied Brora time and space, a brief window was presented to Gillespie who took full advantage as he unleashed a powerful low shot that left Academy goalie Sean McCarthy helpless.

Brora's John Pickles must have wondered how his crafty chip from the edge of the box didn't nestle into the net instead of coming back off the bar 10 minutes from the end.

Wick's Gordon MacNab had a half-chance in the inside-left channel but he couldn't produce the composed finish that was required as he pulled his shot wide of goal.

Academy had barely tested Joe Malin and the lack of action clearly got to the Brora keeper as a rush of blood to the head deep into stoppage time nearly cost his side two points.

A corner came in from the left which could have easily have been headed away by any one of the visitors' centre-halves. Malin, though, keen no doubt for something to do, raced out to try and punch the ball away.

Instead he flapped at it and the ball fell to Halliday. But with an open net inviting an equaliser, the midfielder scuffed his shot against the base of the far post.

Wick Academy: McCarthy, Gunn, Farquhar, R Allan, Manson, Campbell, MacNab, Halliday, Henry (Aitkenhead 77), Martens (Koziol 65), R Macadie (M Macadie 68). Sub not used: Clark.

Brora Rangers: Malin, Kelly, A Macdonald, Williamson, Nicolson, Gavin Morrison, Pickles, Gillespie (Macleod 64), Greg Morrison (Maclean 64), A Macrae, Brindle (Wallace 56). Subs not used: Davidson, Wagenaar, N Macdonald, C Macrae.

Referee: Alan Proctor.


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