Scorries show grit and determination as they make it six games unbeaten
Manager Gary Manson declared that Wick Academy are “scoring goals for fun” after they came from two down to beat Nairn County 4-2 and extend their unbeaten run in the Highland League to six games.
Saturday’s battling victory at a wet, windy and muddy Harmsworth Park made it five wins and an away draw for the Scorries since February 22, with two away fixtures remaining.
Gordon MacNab sparked the revival with a glorious strike in first-half stoppage time – the 1000th goal of the 2024/25 Highland League campaign – but he was later given a straight red for a challenge on Nairn’s Andrew Greig.
Kyle Henderson, Mark Macadie and Euan Kennedy were the other Wick scorers on a pitch that was only just playable after a spell of heavy rain. It was not a day for silky skills but spectators got their money’s worth in terms of grit and determination as well as goals and controversy.
“That goal [by MacNab] gave us a footing in the game and we just had to go and make the most of it in the second half, shooting down the hill with a bit of wind behind us,” Manson said.
“I thought that at times we played really well and we dealt with the conditions.
“It was never going to be a classic. It doesn’t matter about the rain – when you get to this stage of the season, pitches don't allow for classics.
“I thought the boys managed the conditions extremely well, so hats off to them.
“We’re creating loads of chances just now. If you keep creating them and you’re in a confident mood then you’re going to take the majority of them, and that is exactly how it’s panning out.
“We’re scoring goals for fun and we’re looking quite solid defensively as well.”
The visitors went ahead after 17 minutes when Greig’s cross from the left was headed in by Ben Barron.
Nairn doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when a corner by Calum Mackay wasn’t cleared and captain Fraser Dingwall forced the ball home from practically on the goal line.
The Scorries reduced the deficit with a superbly worked goal on the stroke of half-time. Matthew Aitkenhead made progress up the right and picked out Macadie, who set up Gordon MacNab for a first-time shot high into the far corner.
Academy got themselves level eight minutes into the second half when Henderson raced through in acres of space and knocked the ball beyond keeper Dylan Maclean before shepherding it into the unguarded net.
The home side grabbed the lead on 63 minutes when a heavy touch by Maclean was seized upon by the alert Macadie, whose first-time finish was unerring.
Four minutes later MacNab was given his marching orders by referee Filippo Mazzoni.
As MacNab walked past the Nairn bench, words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving ensued and a fist appeared to be aimed at the Wick player. The upshot was a red card for Nairn’s Gary Kerr, who had been subbed off a few minutes earlier.
Academy made sure of the points after 85 minutes when the tireless Marc Coghill chipped a cross into the box from the right and substitute Kennedy directed a diving header high into the net.
The Scorries have taken 16 points from their last six matches, having picked up only 17 points from 26 games prior to that.
The recent run has brought wins against Forres Mechanics (3-1), Turriff United (2-0), Lossiemouth (4-1, all at home), Keith (1-0 away) and Nairn County (4-2 at home) along with a 2-2 draw away to Formartine United.
“The fixtures have a large part to play in the run we’re on,” Manson said. “In the last few games we’ve been playing against teams that are in and around us in the league.
“I’m taking nothing away from the guys but we’ve had a good run of fixtures, and obviously a good run of results and performances.”
It was Academy’s first victory over Nairn for six years. The previous one came in March 2019 when Marc Macgregor and Sam Mackay scored the goals in a 2-0 win at Harmsworth Park.
You have to go slightly further back to find the last time the Scorries scored four or more goals in consecutive home games. That was in October 2018 when a 6-2 victory over Inverurie Locos was followed by a 6-0 win against Fort William.
Brora Rangers took another step towards the Highland League title with a 2-0 victory over Banks O’ Dee at Dudgeon Park with goals from Shane Sutherland and Tony Dingwall.
Second-placed Brechin City kept their hopes alive as they won 4-1 away to Formartine United. Brora and Brechin remain level on points at the top but the Cattachs’ far superior goal difference effectively worth an extra point.
Brora finish with home games against Huntly and Rothes.
High-flying Clachnacuddin won 2-1 at Forres, while Buckie Thistle had a 3-1 victory at Lossiemouth.
Bottom club Rothes saw their miserable season continue with a 3-0 defeat at Turriff.
Huntly went down 2-0 at home to Inverurie, while Fraserburgh beat Strathspey Thistle 3-1.
Highland League results: Brora Rangers 2, Banks O’ Dee 0; Deveronvale 3, Keith 2; Formartine United 1, Brechin City 4; Forres Mechanics 1, Clachnacuddin 2; Fraserburgh 3, Strathspey Thistle 1; Huntly 0, Inverurie Locos 2; Lossiemouth 1, Buckie Thistle 3; Turriff United 3, Rothes 0; Wick Academy 4, Nairn County 2.
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday, April 2: Banks O’ Dee v Fraserburgh; Huntly v Deveronvale ; Keith v Rothes; Lossiemouth v Forres Mechanics; Nairn County v Turriff United.
Saturday, April 5: Brechin City v Nairn County; Brora Rangers v Huntly; Forres Mechanics v Keith; Lossiemouth v Banks O’ Dee; Rothes v Deveronvale; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy; Turriff United v Inverurie Locos.
Wednesday, April 9: Formartine United v Nairn County; Huntly v Fraserburgh; Keith v Strathspey Thistle.
Saturday, April 12: Brechin City v Lossiemouth; Brora Rangers v Rothes; Buckie Thistle v Keith; Clachnacuddin v Formartine United; Forres Mechanics v Banks O’ Dee; Fraserburgh v Huntly; Inverurie Locos v Wick Academy; Nairn County v Deveronvale; Strathspey Thistle v Turriff United.