Scorries to tackle injury-hit Keith
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DAVIE Kirkwood is calling on his players to draw on the spirit of the first round as they prepare to continue their Scottish Cup adventure.
After their 9-1 demolition of East of Scotland League side Coldstream, Wick Academy face a tougher prospect in the form of perennial Highland League title challengers Keith at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
Since their record Scottish Cup win, which was described as a thing of beauty by their manager, the Scorries have failed to build on that success, losing three league games on the trot.
But Kirkwood said his side has shown it is a competitive outfit and the prospect of facing Scottish Football League opposition in the third round is a great incentive.
“Keith are one of the top teams in the HFL, despite them not having the best start to the season,” he said.
“But it doesn’t matter who we are up against as we don’t fear anyone. They won’t fancy having to make the four-hour trip up to Harmsworth Park in the conditions which are being predicted.
“Our players are used to the weather which you get at this time of the year, which should give us the advantage. But we can take on any team in the Highland League home or away. We will just concentrate on ourselves and make sure we are happy with our performance rather than being concerned about the opposition.”
Despite losing to Forres Mechanics on Saturday, Kirkwood said the Scorries gave one of their best performances of the season.
Going into the cup game tomorrow – once again with a full-strength side – Kirkwood said his team is playing the kind of football which deserves more points than Academy’s current total of 10 after 10 games.
“Forres look likely to win their two games in hand and go four points clear at the top,” he said.
“Despite losing, we dominated that second half and should have taken something out of the match. The Scottish Cup is a way of forgetting league matters and fantasising about playing on a bigger stage.
“If anyone doesn’t enjoy these kind of games, they shouldn’t be playing football.”
Keith, a dominant force in the league for the last decade, find themselves in the unusual position of being in the bottom half of the table.
They progressed to the second round after a 2-0 away win against South of Scotland League side St Cuthbert Wanderers.
Keith will head to the Far North with injuries to several key players and without Stuart Walker who was suspended after he was sent off for violent conduct against Formartine United.
Club secretary Sandy Stables said despite the depleted squad the side is confident of progressing.
“We have a habit of being sent to far-flung places in the Scottish Cup as in recent years we have had to play in Edinburgh, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright and now Wick.
“It would be nice to have been given a home tie, but that is how the draw has worked out. Wick are always tough opposition and they could be classed as favourites with home advantage together with our indifferent start to the season.
“Any club which has suffered an injury crisis like we have will always struggle to find consistent form. We have always been great friends with everyone at Wick Academy, but that will be put to one side come 3pm.”
