Under-strength Scorries go to Brechin in ‘reasonable spirits’ after back-to-back wins
Wick Academy are running out of time if they are to pick up any Highland League points against Brechin City.
The Scorries make their longest road trip of the league campaign this weekend when they travel to Glebe Park.
Their track record against the Angus outfit is not good. Since they dropped down from the Scottish Professional Football League in 2021, Brechin have come out on top in all eight meetings between the two clubs.
This will be the final season at Highland League level for the Hedgemen, regardless of whether or not they step up to League Two.
If they fail to gain promotion to the SPFL they will be transferring to the new Lowland League East next term.
Gary Manson’s squad will be under-strength on Saturday but they go into the game buoyed by back-to-back wins.
“I’m sure it’s not only us that Brechin have beaten every time in the Highland League,” the manager said.
“We have run them close. Last year [September 2024] it was only 1-0 down there.
“We’ll give it our best shot. It’s one of those games where you just need to stay as competitive as you possibly can for as long as you can, feel your way into the game, keep things tight and try to nick something on the counter.
“We’re a very good counter-attacking team so it might suit us, you never know. The main thing is to try and stay in the game as long as you can and not give them too many opportunities to score goals.
“We know it’s going to be a tough ask, but after the win on Saturday [against Strathspey Thistle] and the win before that in the Scottish Cup [against Rothes] we’re in reasonable spirits.”
Manson added: “We’re going to be sailing close to the wind on Saturday in terms of what kind of team we can field. We’re missing eight players.
“We’ll see how training goes and then we’ll try to put together a squad that’s as competitive as it can be.”
The Angus club are third in the table, just behind Brora Rangers and Formartine United, while Academy are 14th after last week’s 2-1 home victory over Strathspey.
Substitute Louis Hancock struck the winner in stoppage time after Euan Kennedy’s first-half opener had been cancelled out by Josh Race.
It was the Scorries’ first home win of the 2025/26 league campaign and followed on from their 5-0 Scottish Cup success against Rothes.
Highland League results from Saturday: Banks O’ Dee 3, Fraserburgh 1; Buckie Thistle 2, Forres Mechanics 0; Clachnacuddin 0, Huntly 1; Deveronvale 2, Brora Rangers 4; Inverurie Locos 1, Brechin City 2; Nairn County 0, Keith 2; Rothes 1, Formartine United 5; Turriff United 1, Lossiemouth 1; Wick Academy 2, Strathspey Thistle 1.
Fixtures for Saturday, October 18 – Highland League: Banks O’ Dee v Inverurie Locos; Brechin City v Wick Academy; Fraserburgh v Buckie Thistle; Huntly v Formartine United; Keith v Turriff United; Lossiemouth v Rothes; Strathspey Thistle v Nairn County.
North of Scotland Cup final: Clachnacuddin v Forres Mechanics (at Station Park, Nairn).