Well short of what we expect, says McKenna
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TOM McKenna is demanding greater consistency from his Wick Academy players after watching them slump to a 2-0 home defeat to Deveronvale on Saturday.
Confidence was high going into the game after a recent run of convincing wins in league and cup, but it all fell flat as the Scorries struggled to find a way through a well-drilled Vale back line.
“The performance is not acceptable for this football club or for myself,” a frustrated McKenna said.
“I said to the boys we’ve set standards, and the standards we’ve set have not been met today.
“We were well, well short of what we expect, especially playing at home when you’ve got a good turnout. The manner in which we lost is really disappointing.
“Deveronvale played five at the back, 5-3-2, very defensive, just playing on the counter-attack, and it worked for them.
“We didn’t have the creativity or the imagination to break them down in the final third.”
Academy had generated a feelgood factor in their three previous outings, beating Strathspey Thistle in the North of Scotland Cup before league victories against Lossiemouth and Nairn County, scoring 17 goals in the process.
But they ran out of ideas on Saturday as well-taken goals by Grant Noble and Dane Ballard, either side of half-time, secured Vale’s first win at Harmsworth Park since 2015.
McKenna said: “We did have a few chances but were unable to convert them.
“In the first 10 or 15 minutes we dominated play and if Craig Gunn or Davie Allan had put one of those away I think it would have been a different story – but it’s ifs and buts.
“The boys were on a high. The football they’ve been playing has been absolutely fantastic, so to put in a performance like that today is not good enough. They’ve got to realise that and they’ve got to show more consistency now.
“They’ve had three good results but good teams will go on to gather some momentum and win more points.
“That’s what good teams can do, and unfortunately we don’t fall into that bracket at the moment.”
Vale manager Steve Dolan said: “I thought we were outstanding from start to finish.
“We came up here last season and got a bit of a beating in the middle of the pitch so basically we tried to play a three in there to combat Wick because I think that’s where they’re at their strongest.
“On Wednesday against Formartine I thought we played well without really having many attempts on goal. But as I said to the players today, if you don’t shoot you don’t score, and you need to get balls in the box.
“From the goalkeeper right through I can’t fault anybody and we had two great finishes.
“I don’t think many teams will come and win up here.
“Wick are a top, top football side so we’re delighted with the three points.”
It was Academy’s first match since the announcement of a two-year sponsorship deal with Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd, and the team turned out in their new home kit featuring the Beatrice logo.
