These are games we must look to win, says Wick’s Davie Allan
Davie Allan is hoping Wick Academy can start picking up points from teams around them in the table after a run of four consecutive Highland League defeats.
The Scorries, who remain 15th after their 2-1 loss at home to Formartine United, travel to Lossiemouth this Saturday. The 14th-placed Coasters are on the same points tally as Gary Manson’s side but have a better goal difference.
After that, Academy will be at home to Keith. The Maroons are a point behind in 16th at the moment, having played one game fewer.
Allan said: “No disrespect to those teams at all, they’re about where we are in the table. But, on paper, these are games you’d be looking to win.
“The way Gary sets us up, he expects us to go and try to win those games. Hopefully we can get a couple of wins and we’ll be all right.”
Allan (35) has re-established himself as a regular in the Wick starting line-up after returning from a long-term injury to his left knee.
The experienced forward suffered a ruptured patellar tendon during a match at Inverurie in April 2022 and was sidelined for just over two years before making his comeback towards the end of last season.
“I feel okay,” he said. “I don’t feel perfect, I’m not going to pretend I do. My knee is not actually giving me too much bother. I think I have just accepted that it is the way it is now.
“I feel it’s not the same as it was. It’s pretty clear it’s never going to be.
“Just little things like sprinting and going to stop, and if you’re changing direction, I can’t just do it like I used to be able to.
“I’ve felt that I’ve done okay at times and not so okay at times. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh on myself, I don’t know.
“Probably after an injury like that, and the age I am, I’m not going to get back to the way I was.
“It’s kind of hard not being able to do quite what you used to be able to do, but you’ve just got to accept that and try to adapt, and hopefully I can still contribute.”
Three of Academy’s four consecutive defeats have been by a single-goal margin and they were unlucky to lose on penalties at Huntly in the first round of the Scottish Cup a fortnight ago.
“In the last two games [against Huntly and Formartine United] we’ve played well and probably should have won both games – against decent enough teams as well,” Allan said.
“It’s frustrating that we’re not winning those games, but I’ve played in this league a long time and I know we’re not a bad team.
“We’re a decent team, and I feel we’re better than the teams that have been beating us. But at the end of the day they have beaten us, so we’ve got to get the wins and prove it.”
Allan signed for Academy in 2008 and has made well over 400 competitive appearances, scoring 159 goals.
Highland League results: Brora Rangers 4, Buckie Thistle 1; Forres Mechanics 1, Deveronvale 3; Fraserburgh 4, Keith 0; Huntly 2, Lossiemouth 1; Inverurie Locos 2, Nairn County 3; Rothes 0, Clachnacuddin 4; Strathspey Thistle 1, Banks O’ Dee 4; Turriff United 0, Brechin City 1; Wick Academy 1, Formartine United 2.
Highland League fixtures – Saturday, October 12: Banks O' Dee v Rothes; Brechin City v Brora Rangers; Buckie Thistle v Forres Mechanics; Clachnacuddin v Turriff United; Formartine United v Deveronvale; Keith v Huntly; Lossiemouth v Wick Academy; Nairn County v Fraserburgh; Strathspey Thistle v Inverurie Locos.
Wednesday, October 16: Buckie Thistle v Nairn County; Fraserburgh v Formartine United.
Saturday, October 19: Brora Rangers v Clachnacuddin; Deveronvale v Lossiemouth; Formartine United v Buckie Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Brechin City; Fraserburgh v Inverurie Locos; Huntly v Nairn County; Rothes v Strathspey Thistle; Turriff United v Banks O’ Dee; Wick Academy v Keith.