Wick Academy 'need to be at their very best' against table-topping Brechin
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Manager Gary Manson accepts that Wick Academy will need to be at their very best when they welcome high-flying Brechin City to Harmsworth Park – whether the game takes place this weekend or later in the season.
The Scorries are due to take on the reigning Highland League champions on Saturday but a let-up in this week's wintry conditions may come too late to allow the fixture to go ahead.
Brechin are four points clear at the top of the table after their 3-1 home victory over Rothes, while Academy dropped to 15th after losing by the same scoreline against Turriff United at The Haughs.
The Glebe Park outfit appointed former Elgin City boss Gavin Price as their manager in November after Andy Kirk left to join Craig Levein at top-flight St Johnstone. Price's task is to guide Brechin back to the Scottish Professional Football League.
Manson said: "Brechin are league champions, they're sitting at the top of the league this season as well, so you know you're up against it.
"We gave them a decent game last season. It finished 3-0 [at Harmsworth Park]. We did give them a run for their money that day.
"I don't think we'll get much training done this week. If it goes ahead we will need to be at our very best to take anything from it, and we'll need to be at our best defensively more than offensively.
"When you play the top teams they'll have most of the ball. It'll just be a case of can we keep our discipline, can we keep our shape and prevent them creating clear-cut chances?
"We'll need to wait and see if it's on, first and foremost."
Manson blamed “two moments of madness” after the Scorries had two players sent off in the second half of that encounter at Harmsworth Park in February.
The following month, Academy suffered the heaviest defeat in their Highland League history as they were hammered 10-0 at Glebe Park. Manson apologised to the Wick fans afterwards, calling it "an awful, awful day from start to finish".
Meanwhile, Manson says this weekend's Scottish Cup fourth-round match between Celtic and Buckie Thistle is a reminder of the rewards that can await Highland League clubs that progress through the early rounds of the national tournament.
"It obviously spikes your interest, a Highland League club going away to an Old Firm team," Manson said. "I don't think I'll be watching it but it'll be interesting to see how they get on.
"It'll depend on what team Celtic play – I would imagine they'll play quite a lot of young players in that game, but it'll be a fantastic experience for Buckie.
"That's why we all do it. Yes, the league is your bread and butter and you want to do as well as you can in the league, but in the back of your mind you always want a day out like that.
"That's the dream for everybody in the Highland League, to go away to Rangers or to go away to Celtic or someone like that.
"I'm sure the players will enjoy the build-up and they'll enjoy the occasion. Whether they'll enjoy the game, I don't know – it'll depend on how it goes. But they'll certainly enjoy the experience.
"By all accounts they're taking a good number of fans down and they'll enjoy it. The club will reap the benefits financially as well, so it's a win-win for everybody.
"Fraserburgh played against Rangers not too long ago in the Scottish Cup [in 2018] and now Buckie have got Celtic.
"While it's a dream, it is achievable – it's not a completely far-fetched dream. We got to the third round last season, so we were only one step away from getting in the fourth-round draw.
"Fair play to them and good luck to them on Sunday. I hope they do well."
Highland League results: Brechin City 3, Rothes 1; Fraserburgh 2, Clachnacuddin 2; Formartine United 6, Keith 2; Forres Mechanics 0, Deveronvale 2; Huntly 2, Buckie Thistle 3; Inverurie Locos 2, Brora Rangers 2; Lossiemouth 1, Banks O' Dee 6; Turriff United 3, Wick Academy 1.
Fixtures – Saturday, January 20 – Highland League: Banks O' Dee v Inverurie Locos; Clachnacuddin v Forres Mechanics; Deveronvale v Formartine United; Keith v Huntly; Nairn County v Lossiemouth; Rothes v Strathspey Thistle; Turriff United v Fraserburgh; Wick Academy v Brechin City (3pm).
Scottish Cup fourth round – Saturday: Brora Rangers v Cove Rangers. Sunday: Celtic v Buckie Thistle.
