Wick Academy concede double figures in heaviest Highland League defeat
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Wick Academy crashed to their heaviest defeat as a Highland League club on Saturday as they conceded double figures to Brechin City.
The 10-0 annihilation at Glebe Park came three days after a 2-1 home loss to bottom-of-the-table Strathspey Thistle.
Grady McGrath helped himself to five goals as Brechin netted five times in each half to keep up their title challenge. Marc Scott (2), Kieran Inglis (2) and Ewan Loudon got the others.
It was the latest, and biggest, in a series of demoralising defeats for the Scorries over the past five weeks. Since being thrashed 7-1 by Brora Rangers at Harmsworth Park on February 22, they have been beaten 6-0 by both Fraserburgh (home) and Formartine United (away).
Their only point during that time came in a 1-1 draw with Forres Mechanics.
Academy, who have been hampered by injury problems and suspensions throughout the campaign, now have a trip to Brora's Dudgeon Park on Wednesday night. Gary Manson's side go into that one having let in a total of 32 goals in their last six outings.
Keith's home defeat to Forres on Saturday spared Academy the indignity of dropping to second bottom. However, the result at Brechin means the Scorries now have the second-worst defensive record in the league, with a goals-against tally of 82 from 27 fixtures.
Until Saturday, the club's worst defeats in the Highland League had been 9-1 away to Cove Rangers in November 1999 and 8-0 at home to Banks O' Dee in September last year.
Billy Miller played in goal as a trialist for Academy – and pulled off a second-half penalty save – after regular keeper Graeme Williamson was a late call-off. James More was listed on the bench but was carrying an injury.
Miller was not at fault for any of the goals.
It looked ominous for Wick when Scott opened the scoring after four minutes. McGrath then got in on the act and racked up a hat-trick before the half-hour mark before Scott grabbed his second.
There was no let-up from Brechin after the break as McGrath added two more, either side of a strike by substitute Loudon. Inglis got the last two goals.
McGrath was denied a double hat-trick with Miller's penalty save when the score was 8-0.
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 4, Brora Rangers 3; Brechin City 10, Wick Academy 0; Buckie Thistle 3, Nairn County 0; Fraserburgh 3, Lossiemouth 0; Inverurie Locos 3, Turriff United 1; Keith 2, Forres Mechanics 6.
Fixtures – Wednesday, March 29: Brora Rangers v Wick Academy; Clachnacuddin v Banks O' Dee; Fraserburgh v Brechin City; Strathspey Thistle v Huntly.
Saturday, April 1: Banks O' Dee v Lossiemouth; Brechin City v Turriff United; Formartine United v Deveronvale; Forres Mechanics v Buckie Thistle; Inverurie Locos v Brora Rangers; Nairn County v Keith; Rothes v Fraserburgh; Strathspey Thistle v Clachnacuddin; Wick Academy v Huntly.
- Post-match comments to follow.
Buckie Thistle maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 home victory over Nairn County. However, Brechin have three games in hand and now have a better goal difference.
Buckie and Brechin are due to meet at Victoria Park on the last day of the campaign.
Josh Peters, Joe McCabe and Kyle Macleod got the goals for the Jags and their manager Graeme Stewart said afterwards: "I would take a 1-0 win in every game from now to the end of the season."
Banks O' Dee edged out Brora Rangers in a seven-goal thriller, with Brora striker Jordan MacRae scoring a hat-trick but ending up on the losing side.
Forres Mechanics ended a 10-game run without victory as they beat Keith 6-2 at Kynoch Park. Inverurie Locos were 3-1 winners over Turriff United, while Fraserburgh defeated Lossiemouth 3-0 in the Friday night match.
