Teenagers have given Wick Academy a massive boost in energy, says MacNab
Gordon MacNab has praised Wick Academy’s emerging youngsters for the way they have brought fresh energy to the team.
As many as seven teenagers have featured for the Scorries in the Highland League over the past six weeks. Results have picked up during that time, with a creditable draw at Fraserburgh and home wins against Rothes, Forres Mechanics and Turriff United.
Academy achieved back-to-back wins for the first time this season with last Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Turriff, following on from their 3-1 success against Forres Mechanics.
MacNab fired in the second goal against Turriff with just under an hour gone after Marc Macgregor had opened the scoring midway through the first half. Both players are 30 and are among the more experienced members of the squad.
“The young ones coming in are making a massive difference,” MacNab said. “There’s a lot of energy in them.
“I wouldn’t say we’re an ageing squad – we’ve got guys that have been there for a while and are experienced. But certainly the young ones coming in have given us a massive boost in energy all over the park.”
MacNab, renowned as a striker, has had a deeper-lying role recently.
“It has been a change over the last four or five games now,” he said. “It has definitely been a deeper role for me.
“But it’s good for me to learn because I’m kind of getting to that stage of my career – I’ll be 31 in June. We’ve got forward players that are doing really well and I don’t mind stepping back and doing a job in there.”
MacNab says he enjoys playing alongside 17-year-old Orcadian midfielder George Ewing.
“George has been playing regularly for us, 90 minutes most weeks,” MacNab said. “He is a bundle of energy and he is actually a joy to play with.
“I’ve been playing in that sort of position with him and he covers so much ground and makes it easier for me.”
MacNab also welcomed the return of 22-year-old attacking midfielder Mark Macadie.
“Mark coming back from injury gives us another burst of energy,” MacNab said. “He is always positive going forward.”
MacNab’s goal against Turriff was a low shot from the right edge of the penalty box that arrowed into the opposite corner.
“In the last few weeks I’ve not really been getting an opportunity to even get a shot because I’ve been playing in that deeper role, trying to sit in and figure out what I’m doing – but I got that chance and thought ‘just let it go’,” he said.
“It’s good to get on the scoresheet. It has been a while, so I’m happy.”
Academy face a difficult test against Formartine United at North Lodge Park this Saturday. Formartine came from behind to win 2-1 when the sides met at Harmsworth Park at the start of October, with MacNab heading in the Wick goal that day.
“There’s no pressure on us now,” MacNab insisted. “We’re certainly not going down there as favourites, but I’m definitely confident that we can cause an upset.”
Manager Gary Manson said: “It’s a tough place against a tough team. We’ll go down and try our best.
“We’ll try to execute a game plan that gives us a chance of getting a point or three.”
Formartine United were in action on Wednesday night when they had to rely on a second-half goal by Robert Ward to edge a 1-0 victory over Lossiemouth at North Lodge Park.
Brechin City’s interim manager Ray McKinnon got off to a winning start in Banff as they beat Deveronvale 3-0.
Second-placed Brechin were hoping for a slip-up by leaders Brora Rangers, but a second-half penalty by Connor Bunce gave the Cattachs a 1-0 win at home to Nairn County to maintain the three-point gap between the top two.
Josh Peters scored four first-half goals for Buckie Thistle, including two penalties, against Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park. Liam Shewan pulled one back in the second half and it ended 4-1 to Buckie.
Rothes remain bottom of the table after going down 6-1 at Fraserburgh. The Speysiders have now conceded 100 league goals this season.
Huntly and Banks O’ Dee drew 1-1.
Results from last weekend – Highland League Cup semi-finals: Deveronvale 1, Brora Rangers 3; Fraserburgh 2, Banks O’ Dee 0. Highland League: Brechin City 1, Clachnacuddin 1; Forres Mechanics 1, Formartine United 1; Inverurie Locos 3, Rothes 2; Nairn County 0, Buckie Thistle 2; Strathspey Thistle 0, Keith 2; Wick Academy 2, Turriff United 0.
Highland League results from Wednesday: Brora Rangers 1, Nairn County 0; Deveronvale 0, Brechin City 3; Formartine United 1, Lossiemouth 0; Fraserburgh 6, Rothes 1; Huntly 1, Banks O’ Dee 1; Strathspey Thistle 1, Buckie Thistle 4.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, March 8: Banks O’ Dee v Strathspey Thistle; Brechin City v Turriff United; Buckie Thistle v Brora Rangers; Clachnacuddin v Rothes; Deveronvale v Forres Mechanics; Formartine United v Wick Academy; Keith v Fraserburgh; Lossiemouth v Huntly; Nairn County v Inverurie Locos.
