Three points is a must for Scorries
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CONFIDENCE is on the up at Harmsworth Park says Wick Academy manager Davie Kirkwood.
After Saturday’s 3-1 victory over reigning Highland League champions Buckie Thistle, he hopes it will be the benchmark to rise up the table.
Despite impressive attacking perfor
mances in their first two games against Clachnacuddin and Lossiemouth, all the Scorries had to show for their efforts was a single point.
Kirkwood said that his lads always had the potential to develop a real killer instinct in front of goal and they proved that against the Jags.
The Scorries will be making the first of the two visits to Speyside in the next fortnight when they take on Strathspey Thistle on Saturday.
With their opponents currently sitting at the bottom of the table, Kirkwood said this is the ideal opportunity for the side to pull together a string of wins.
"The Clach and Lossie games were a build-up to what we can really do," he said. "We had played really well in the first three games, but last week was the first time we took our chances to get the win.
"We were well worth the victory and I was delighted for the lads.
"It was a big deal to beat Buckie Thistle, but I’m taking even more confidence from the way we are playing.
"We have the potential to make it difficult for every team we play against, not just the champions, home or away.
"The boys are confident about controlling the ball and getting up the field. We just have to work on getting the ball back and defending better, although this is improving, and last weekend the back four looked solid."
Kirkwood reserved special praise for Stevie Cunningham who was playing out of position at right back against Buckie Thistle.
He deliberately moved him into that position to counter Buckie’s tactics which he said was crucial in getting the win.
Looking ahead to the match against Strathspey Thistle, he said that three points should be a must.
Despite their opponents’ reputation of being one of the weakest teams in the league, Kirkwood said he is taking nothing for granted.
"Thistle are a big physical side and we are not kidding ourselves that it will be an easy match," he stated. "In the past they have given us problems and even beat us down there last season.
"But I think that we’re catching them at the right time as we’re on a high and they’ve lost their first three games. As long as we focus on our game, we should be confident enough of taking the win."
Strathspey Thistle manager Brian Richie only picked up the reins at the start of the season when he took over from Donly McLeod.
Despite having a full squad to choose from, he said that he was extremely wary of facing the Scorries after their win against Buckie.
"I’ve been a big fan of Wick’s style of football in recent seasons," he said. "They are the team that I actually aspire Strathspey to play like.
"Every time they come calling it has always been a case of us having to batten down the hatches.
"I think if we are to get a result ,we will have to do the same again."
He continued: "We are looking to improve from last season when we finished 17th. But we are aware that teams around us, such as Rothes and Fort William, have also improved.
"This is my first season in charge and if we don’t finish lower than 16th, that will be a big success for us."
