We needed to show more composure, says Manson as Wick Academy face Scottish Cup replay
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Wick Academy face a trip to West Lothian this weekend after being held to a 2-2 draw in Saturday's hard-fought Scottish Cup first-round tie against Bo'ness United at Harmsworth Park.
The Scorries led twice, through headed goals from Jack Henry and Steven Anderson, but were pegged back each time by their Lowland League opponents who held on to force a replay despite having two players sent off.
Greg Skinner was shown a straight red card three minutes into the second half for a foul that led directly to Academy's second goal, and Jamie McCormack followed suit with four minutes left.
Wick manager Gary Manson felt his team should have shown more composure when in front and he saw it as a missed opportunity to go through at the first time of asking. Instead, Academy had to settle for their seventh draw in 11 league and cup matches this term.
“With us twice being ahead, and them going down to 10 men for a long period, and the chances we had at the end as well, we'll never get a better chance than that to win a Scottish Cup tie and go through to the next round,” Manson said.
“We created far more chances than them. They were better on the ball until they got to the final third.
“They didn't create as many chances and they didn't create many problems. I don't think our goalie had many saves to make.
“Something is lacking at the moment – it's maybe down to our lack of confidence though not winning games.
“We're needing someone to show a wee bit of composure on that park. We were 2-1 up against 10 men and at times we just needed to put our foot on the ball, manage the game better, keep possession and then things will all settle down and we can look to score again.
“But it was just far too frantic. The boys were trying one-touch passes when it wasn't on and it was like a game of basketball at times.
“Unfortunately we'll need to go down there next Saturday and do it all over again so we'll hope for a better outcome.”
Academy started brightly, although Bo'ness had the first clear sight of goal when a shot by Zander Miller was blocked by keeper Graeme Williamson.
The home side made the breakthrough on 18 minutes after Anderson, Davie Allan and Jack Halliday combined in a swift attack up the park that led to a corner on the right. Ross Allan's delivery was headed in by Henry at the back post.
Academy's injury troubles deepened when Gordon MacNab went down and immediately signalled to the bench that his afternoon was over. He was replaced by Mark Macadie.
Bo'ness equalised after 39 minutes when they won a free kick on the left, just outside the penalty area. Kieran Anderson angled the ball towards the back post and Miller came flying in to score from close range with a glancing header.
Steven Anderson had been on the receiving end of some rough treatment and, with 48 minutes gone, Skinner's foul on the Wick forward brought a red card from referee Alex Shepherd.
After a delay while Skinner left the pitch, Ross Allan sent the free kick into the penalty box and Anderson stooped to direct a diving header beyond keeper Andy Murphy.
Academy were looking eager and energetic going forward, with Davie Allan at the heart of some clever exchanges. Allan picked out Halliday for a shot that Murphy blocked with his legs.
Against the run of play, Bo'ness equalised on 75 minutes when Miller burst up the left and squared the ball across the six-yard box where it was slammed in by Matty Flynn.
It had been a bruising encounter, and in the 86th minute McCormack was given his marching orders for bringing down Academy's newly introduced substitute Sean Campbell.
Ross Allan's inswinging free kick found Henry unmarked in front of goal but the midfielder was unable to connect with a header.
Bo'ness United manager Max Christie admitted he was relieved to come away from Wick with a draw as the teams prepare to meet again at Newtown Park in Saturday's replay.
The Lowland League outfit listed only two substitutes after a combination of Covid issues and injury problems left them short of numbers for the journey to Caithness, and they finished the tie with nine men after Greg Skinner and Jamie McCormack were red-carded in the second half.
“We're delighted to still be in the hat, no doubt,” Christie said.
“I thought Wick were very good and I like the big centre-forward [Steven Anderson]. He's combative, he uses his body well and he is a willing runner.
“I thought the Wick team were well motivated and organised so we're just happy to still be in the cup.
“I think it was a good game. It was enjoyable – that's why we do it.”
Christie said he was left shaking his head at the red-card decisions by referee Alex Shepherd which will mean both players being suspended for the replay.
Wick Academy: Williamson, Sinclair, R Allan, Mackay, Hardwick, R Campbell (S Campbell 85), Halliday, Henry, MacNab (M Macadie 22), S Anderson, D Allan. Subs not used: Hughes, Bain, C Farquhar, Mathieson, Manson, Cowan, More.
Bo'ness United: Murphy, McCormack, Stevenson (MacAuley 64), Skinner, Hunter, Gemmell, Miller, Galbraith, Wilson (Locke 50), Anderson, Flynn.
Referee: Alex Shepherd.
The winners of the Scottish Cup replay between Bo'ness United and Wick Academy will be away to League Two side Edinburgh City in the second round of the competition.
The draw, made on Sunday by Callum Davidson, manager of cup holders St Johnstone, handed Brora Rangers a home tie against Albion Rovers. The Cattachs cruised through with a 6-0 success away to capital outfit Tynecastle.
Rothes, who were 2-1 winners at Blackburn United, were rewarded with a visit to either Newtongrange Star or Dalbeattie Star.
Huntly's 3-0 victory over Hill of Beath earned them a visit to League Two's bottom side, Stenhousemuir, while Brechin City eased to a 5-0 win against Vale of Leithen.
Buckie Thistle have a first-round replay at home to Cumbernauld Colts and if they get through they will be away to League Two leaders Kelty Hearts. Formartine United and Deveronvale also face replays.
Nairn County had a comfortable 4-0 win against Strathspey Thistle in an all-Highland League tie.
Highland League leaders Fraserburgh lost 2-1 at home to Sauchie Juniors.
North Caledonian League champions Golspie Sutherland were beaten 3-0 at home by Civil Service Strollers.
Scottish Cup first-round results – Friday: East Stirlingshire 3, Fort William 0; Cumbernauld Colts 1, Buckie Thistle 1.
Saturday: Banks O’Dee 1, Turriff United 0; Blackburn United 1, Rothes 2; Brechin City 5, Vale of Leithen 0; Broomhill 6, Glasgow University 0; Caledonian Braves 0, University of Stirling 1; Clachnacuddin 1, Dunipace 2; Clydebank 7, Dalkeith Thistle 0; Coldstream 1, East Kilbride 10; Deveronvale 2, Haddington Athletic 2; Dunbar United 2, Camelon 0; Formartine United 2, Cumnock 2; Forres Mechanics 0, Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2; Fraserburgh 1, Sauchie Juniors 2; Golspie Sutherland 0, Civil Service Strollers 3; Huntly 3, Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0; Inverurie Locos 0, Jeanfield Swifts 3; Irvine Meadow XI 1, Auchinleck Talbot 3; Keith 1, Darvel 2; Lossiemouth 0, Preston Athletic 3; Nairn County 4, Strathspey Thistle 0; Newtongrange Star 1, Dalbeattie Star 1; Penicuik Athletic 1, Tranent Juniors 3; Spartans 0, Gala Fairydean Rovers 1; Tynecastle 0, Brora Rangers 6; Wick Academy 2, Bo’ness United 2; Wigtown and Bladnoch 0, St Cuthbert Wanderers 8. Monday: Berwick Rangers v Gretna 2008.
Second-round ties (to be played over the weekend of October 23): Annan Athletic v Jeanfield Swifts; Banks O'Dee v Nairn County; Berwick Rangers or Gretna 2008 v Stirling Albion; Brechin City v Deveronvale or Haddington Athletic; Broomhill v Tranent Juniors; Brora Rangers v Albion Rovers; Clydebank v Elgin City; Cowdenbeath v Civil Service Strollers; Dunbar United v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale or Edinburgh University; East Kilbride v University of Stirling; East Stirlingshire v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic; Edinburgh City v Wick Academy or Bo'ness United; Formartine United or Cumnock Juniors v Forfar Athletic; Kelty Hearts v Cumbernauld Colts or Buckie Thistle; Newtongrange Star or Dalbeattie Star v Rothes; Preston Athletic v Auchinleck Talbot; Sauchie Juniors v Dunipace; St Cuthbert Wanderers v Gala Fairydean Rovers; Stenhousemuir v Huntly; Stranraer v Darvel.
