Wick Academy back on track with historic win
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FORMARTINE UNITED 0 - 2 WICK ACADEMY
Scorers – Macadie (65), Allan (88).
AFTER losing four on the bounce, Wick Academy got their league campaign back on track with an impressive 2-0 victory in Pitmedden.
Big-spending Formartine, who were the pundits’ favourite to take their first-ever Highland League title this season, had several former Aberdeen FC players in their line-up – Derek Soutar, Andy Bagshaw and Neil McVitie all started at North Lodge Park along with former Peterhead favourite Bobby Mann.
But it doesn’t matter how much money you spend, good individuals don’t necessarily make a good team.
Academy have been guilty of not making the most of their dominance in games this season. But on Saturday the Scorries went about proving a point against United.
Hit by injuries – Michael Steven, Alan Farquhar, Martin Gunn, Gary Weir and James More were all out – several players took their chance to claim a place in the first-team squad by impressing manager Davie Kirkwood.
The visitors could have taken the lead within three minutes when Davie Allan wriggled his way through the defence and drove the ball in but his shot was saved well by Soutar.
The defining moment of the game came in the 13th minute when Sam Mackay sprung the Formartine trap, leaving him with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Soutar rushed outside his box and could only stop the midfielder by sliding into his feet. Referee Andy Milne had no option but to give Soutar his marching orders as Steve Pat-erson was forced to take off Calum Bagshaw for substitute goalkeeper Ross Bremner.
The substitute keeper could have been sent off in similar circumstances when he rushed out of his box after Mackay once again got the better of the United defence.
The midfielder managed to get round Bremner and was only denied the lead when his shot was cleared off the line by Colin Robertson. Formartine’s defensive misery continued in the 36th minute when Wick were awarded a penalty after Bremner was booked for bringing down Allan in the box.
The goalkeeper redeemed himself when he saved Stevie Cunningham’s spot kick, leaving the visitors wondering if their dominance was once again going to be unrewarded.
However, after 65 minutes, Wick eventually took the lead when Mackay sent in a cross from the right wing to find Richard Macadie whose thunderous shot left the goalkeeper with no chance.
Wick never looked like surrendering their lead and, with 10 minutes left, could have doubled their score when a good sweeping move involving Macadie, Stewart Ross and Sinclair resulted in Allan firing on target from the edge of the box. But the shot was saved well by Bremner.
The game was made safe on 88 minutes when an error from Mann resulted in Allan picking the ball up from the halfway line and beating two defenders before coolly slotting past the keeper to take the three points home.
It was Wick’s first win at North Lodge Park as well as their first clean sheet of the season.
Formartine: Soutar, Davidson, Robertson, Mann, Campbell, McVitie, MacGowan (Smith 70), C. Bagshaw (Bremner 13), McKay, Smith, A. Bagshaw (Stephen 67). Subs not used: McGinlay, Coyle.
Wick: Bokas, Sinclair, R. Allan (Mackay 82), Ross, Steven, Shearer, Manson, Mackay, D. ?Allan, Macadie, Cunningham (Hughes 88). ?Subs not used: Budge, Gray.
Referee: Andy Milne.
