We’ll see if we can do ourselves justice, says Manson as Wick get back to league action
Gary Manson is hoping his Wick Academy players can do themselves justice as they return to Highland League action following their agonising Scottish Cup exit against Benburb.
The Scorries take on Banks O’ Dee at Harmsworth Park on Saturday, one week on from the disappointment of going out of the national tournament on penalties for the second season in a row.
Steven Sutherland and Alan Hughes are likely to return to the Wick squad along with Orkney-based Owen Rendall, who missed the Scottish Cup second-round tie because of a ferry cancellation.
“We’ll be in a reasonably strong position squad-wise,” Manson said.
Academy have yet to beat Banks O’ Dee since the Aberdeen outfit joined the Highland League in 2022. The best the Scorries have managed so far is a 1-1 draw in April 2024, with Banks O’ Dee running out comfortable winners in the other five fixtures.
The Scorries are 14th in the table, while Banks O’ Dee are fifth behind Formartine United, Brechin City, Brora Rangers and Fraserburgh.
The Benburb tie finished goalless after 90 minutes, with George Ewing missing Academy’s best chance when he had a clear shot on goal in the second half only to put the ball over the bar.
There had been claims for a Wick penalty in the first half when Louis Hancock appeared to be pushed over in the box.
Benburb’s Jamie Taggart broke the deadlock in extra time only for Marc Macgregor to head in an equaliser but the West of Scotland League first division side won 8-7 in the shootout.
“That’s just football,” Manson said. “Unfortunately you get a lot of disappointments and that’s just the way football goes.
“You just have to deal with it and move on to the next game. We’ll see if we can do ourselves justice on Saturday.
“That was one of the things about last Saturday – we didn’t do ourselves justice. I thought we were the better team but we didn’t do enough to go and win it.
“In the first half I thought we were denied an absolute stonewall penalty. I’ve watched the video back and it just reaffirmed what I thought on the day – I have no idea why it wasn’t given.
“It’s extremely clear that the guy made no attempt to play the ball and took young Louis out.
“You see things like that happening, you see George’s chance in the second half not go in, and you just maybe think it’s not our day.”
Last season Academy went out of the Scottish Cup in the first round with a shootout loss to Huntly at Christie Park. The tie ended 2-2 after extra time after the Scorries twice came from behind, with Huntly progressing 5-3 on penalties.
Results – Friday – Scottish Cup, second round: Formartine United 0, Buckie Thistle 2.
Saturday – Scottish Cup, second round (ties involving Highland League clubs): Banks O’ Dee 4, Fraserburgh 0; Brechin City 3, Dundonald Bluebell 1; Clachnacuddin 2, Sauchie Juniors 0; Elgin City 2, Deveronvale 1; Nairn County 1, Turriff United 2; Wick Academy 1, Benburb 1 (Benburb won 8-7 on penalties).
Highland League: Strathspey Thistle 3, Huntly 0.
Fixtures for Saturday, November 1 – Highland League: Clachnacuddin v Forres Mechanics; Formartine United v Brora Rangers; Inverurie Locos v Buckie Thistle; Lossiemouth v Keith; Nairn County v Brechin City; Rothes v Huntly; Turriff United v Strathspey Thistle; Wick Academy v Banks O’ Dee (all 3pm).
Scottish Cup third-round draw (ties involving Highland League clubs): Annan Athletic v Buckie Thistle; Ayr United v Turriff United; Banks O’ Dee v Ross County; Kelty Hearts v Brechin City; Stenhousemuir v Clachnacuddin.