Wick Academy will look to put things right after being thrashed by Clach
Wick Academy will look to bounce back against Banks O’ Dee on Saturday after suffering their biggest loss of the Highland League campaign when they were thrashed 7-0 by Clachnacuddin on Wednesday night.
For the second season in a row, the Scorries were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat at Grant Street Park after losing 8-0 in December.
Manager Gary Manson was unavailable for comment after the final whistle.
Now the Scorries will look to put things right as they take on Banks O’ Dee, who went down to a surprise 3-2 defeat against Huntly in midweek.
Clach manager Conor Gethins said after the game he was always confident his team could pick up another victory over Academy but he hadn’t anticipated such an emphatic result.
“You don’t expect that scoreline, but it just felt from the word go that we were on it,” he said.
“We were clinical and it could have been a lot more in the first half. It felt nice and we knocked the ball around really well.
“We appreciate Wick were coming down here on a Wednesday night, boys were leaving work early to play, and they had a few boys from Orkney who were missing for the game.
“It is a shame for them on that side of things. But for us it is good, as it is our fourth clean sheet in seven games and 13 goals for us too. It is a good way to start the season.
“We have gone into this season with expectations, but we are only seven games in and that could change in a couple of weeks. We have Brechin City, Banks O’ Dee and Buckie within a three-week window.
“But right now we are taking every game as it comes. It has been good, it could be better, and it will be better.”
Harry Nicolson opened the scoring after 11 minutes as he got the final touch on a Josh Meekings shot to flick past Graeme Williamson into the net.
James Anderson doubled their advantage five minutes later when he nodded the ball home from close range.
Nicolson got the third just after the half-hour mark when he launched a thunderous strike from 30 yards straight into the top-right corner.
Scott Davidson made it four in the 34th minute when he beat the offside trap in a counter-attack and fired past Williamson.
The Lilywhites didn’t find their fifth until nine minutes from full-time. Lewis Mackenzie saw his first shot parried away by Williamson but, when Troy Cooper sent the ball back into the box, Mackenzie made no mistake with the second attempt.
Jack Davison made it six in the 86th minute when he ran onto a long ball before charging towards goal and firing home from the edge of the box.
The rout was completed in injury time when Connor Bunce fired from 18 yards.
Highest scorers in the midweek Highland League action were Buckie Thistle, who made it 15 goals in two games with an 8-2 romp against bottom club Strathspey Thistle. Lyall Keir netted five times for the Jags.
Angus Grant scored a first-half hat-trick for Huntly in their 3-2 away victory over Banks O’ Dee. Hamish Macleod and a Ross Still own goal got two back for Dee in the second period.
Four first-half goals set up Inverurie Locos for a 4-0 success against Turriff United, while Keith won by the same score at home to Forres.
Brechin City returned to top spot, beating Deveronvale 2-0. Dayle Robertson got both goals following on from his Harmsworth Park treble at the weekend.
Brora Rangers had taken over as leaders on Tuesday night after winning 5-1 at Nairn.
Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 2, Huntly 3; Brechin City 2, Deveronvale 0; Buckie Thistle 8, Strathspey Thistle 2; Clachnacuddin 7, Wick Academy 0; Inverurie Locos 4, Turriff United 0; Keith 4, Forres Mechanics 0; Lossiemouth 0, Formartine United 2; Nairn County 1, Brora Rangers 5.
Fixtures for Saturday, August 31: Brora Rangers v Inverurie Locos; Buckie Thistle v Brechin City; Deveronvale v Clachnacuddin; Formartine United v Keith; Forres Mechanics v Nairn County; Huntly v Rothes; Strathspey Thistle v Lossiemouth; Turriff United v Fraserburgh; Wick Academy v Banks O’ Dee (all 3pm).
