We made things difficult for ourselves, says assistant manager Gray as Wick Academy see off new-look Fort William
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Assistant manager Michael Gray admitted that Wick Academy made life hard for themselves as they withstood a second-half fightback by a battling Fort William side in Saturday's Highland League game at Harmsworth Park.
The Scorries looked to be heading for a comfortable afternoon when Mark Macadie put them three up early in the second period, adding to player/manager Gary Manson's opener from the penalty spot and a goal for Davie Allan on his 400th competitive appearance for the club.
Niels Lellouch reduced the deficit and Yves Zama got a second for relegation-threatened Fort, but Academy held on for a 3-2 win to strengthen their grip on eighth place.
“We just don't know how to make it easy for ourselves,” Gray said, while acknowledging that Academy had nine players missing.
“It was an end-to-end game. There's a lot at stake for Fort William at the moment – we were under no illusions about that.
“It was one of those games where we got 3-0 ahead and dare I say maybe a little bit of complacency set in. Certainly the quality of football dropped in that last half-hour and it allowed them a foothold in the game.
“Their centre-forward is a big lad and he was a handful in and about the penalty area.
“They had plenty of energy and enthusiasm for the game, so you can't knock them, but I just think we made things a little bit too difficult for ourselves.
“Maybe our defensive line was dropping a little bit as well. Their second goal came from a set-piece, and it was a good header, but could our defensive line have been a little bit higher to make it more difficult?
“We're a bit disappointed with that last half-hour.
"I thought in the first half we were really good. We moved the ball really well and 2-0 certainly didn't flatter us in the first half – I thought we were well worth it.
“Getting to 3-0 early in the second half, I thought if we could maintain the momentum it would be good, but unfortunately we just maybe took our foot off the gas.”
Fort's new boss Shadab Iftikhar has overseen a complete overhaul of Fort William's playing resources over the past couple of months.
Mateusz Kulbacki and Darren Brew were the only survivors from the squad that travelled to Harmsworth Park in October for the first meeting between the teams this season. Academy won that game 3-1.
Gray said: “They've had a complete change of personnel, with a new manager, and their results have been pretty competitive. Fair play to them.
“Going into this period of the season, there are teams at the bottom who will be looking over their shoulder and every result matters.
“They will know that if they can get on a little bit of a run, they can put the teams above under a little bit of pressure.
“We knew that there would be a lot of energy in the game and it was just about whether we could show enough composure at the right times to make it count.”
The Scorries went into the match without Graeme Williamson, Danny Mackay, Andy Hardwick, Sean Campbell, Ryan Campbell, Richard Macadie, Brandon Sinclair, Alan Mathieson and Alan Farquhar.
The under-strength home side carved out the first clear chance with 10 minutes gone when Allan played the ball across the face of goal but Gordon MacNab blazed his shot over the bar.
Steven Anderson prodded the ball into the net after a Manson free kick fell kindly for him in the box but it was disallowed for offside.
Macadie had a shot on target and Anderson came close with a half-volley before the breakthrough arrived on 33 minutes. Allan was tripped as he made a darting run into the box and Manson thumped the resultant penalty past Mateusz Kulbacki.
Five minutes later the Scorries doubled their lead when Allan drilled a low shot into the net after some quick interplay involving Anderson and Jack Halliday. Kulbacki took a knock in the process and required lengthy treatment.
Referee Billy Baxter awarded Academy a second spot-kick three minutes into the second half after a foul on Jack Henry but this time Manson's effort was saved by Kulbacki.
Wick's third was delayed by only two minutes, though, as Manson picked out Macadie on the left side of the penalty box. Macadie advanced on goal and slammed the ball past Kulbacki from a tight angle.
Fort gave themselves a lifeline after 55 minutes when Lellouch bundled the ball past James More after a dipping shot by Zama bounced off the crossbar.
The visitors struck again after 85 minutes to ensure a nervy ending for the home support. Zama rose highest when Joshua Niblock delivered a free kick into the box, and the striker from the Ivory Coast sent a towering header beyond More.
Wick Academy: More, Hughes, Manson, R Allan, J Anderson (C Farquhar 64), Henry, M Macadie (Munro 74), Halliday, S Anderson, MacNab, D Allan. Substitutes not used: Bain, Miller.
Fort William: Kulbacki, Niblock, Thompson, Diallo, Lellouch, Sani, Mabhena, Brew (Kelly 46), Zama, Aboifitah (Morris 46), Ahmed. Substitutes not used: Makda, Muchenje, Dostmohamed, Fejzo.
Referee: Billy Baxter.
