Jack Halliday sent off as Wick Academy fall to defeat against Huntly despite fightback
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Highland League
Huntly 5
Wick Academy 2
Scorers - Huntly: Hunter (20, 90) Still (22) Grant (30) Blacklock (90) Wick: M. Macadie (31) Henry (44)
Wick Academy were blown away by a first half blitz as Huntly kept all three points at Christie Park despite a spirited fightback.
The Scorries found themselves three goals down after 30 minutes with Andrew Hunter, Ross Still and Angus Grant all finding the net.
Mark Macadie pulled one back immediately and Jack Henry scored before half time to give Academy hope of a fightback in the second half.
But Wick were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages when Jack Halliday was sent off for a lunging challenge on Gavin Elphinstone.
Cameron Blacklock scored along with Hunter's second in injury time to wrap up all three points for Huntly.
Huntly broke the deadlock after the 20th minute when Hunter chanced his luck from 25 yards out with a powerful strike Graeme Williamson was unable to get a hand to as the ball flew into the net.
Two minutes later, Huntly doubled their advantage when Still was unchallenged at the edge of the box and was allowed to fire a powerful low drive past Williamson.
A lack of communication in the Wick defence saw a loose ball pounced upon by Grant who from 12 yards out fired past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 Huntly.
But Wick pulled one back immediately after the restart when a surging phase of play saw Macadie fire a cross home from close range.
Just before half time, Wick reduced the deficit to one as after Henry Hennem saw his shot hit the left post. Henry pounced to score from close range and give the Scorries hope heading into the break.
Hunter was denied by the woodwork midway through the second half as his spectacular free kick from 30 yards out rattled the left post.
Huntly created the better chances in the second half, and Hunter came close to grabbing his second when he beat the Wick defence to a Michael Clark cross.
But Williamson pulled off a terrific save to keep Wick's deficit to one.
Halliday was sent off with six minutes remaining when he lunged on Gavin Elphinstone to prevent a counter attack surging upfield.
Huntly then killed off the game in injury time with two goals from Blacklock and Hunter to give them all three points.
Huntly: Hobday, Connelly, Booth, Dalling, Clark, Still, Elphinstone (Blackstock 88), Lamb, Hunter, Grant (Allen 54), Murray (Morris 75).
Subs (Unused) McCormick, Thoirs, Sewell, Storrier.
Wick: Williamson, Anderson, Hendry, Halliday, McNab, Macadie, Hughes, Hennem, Macleod (Montgomery 75), Campbell.
Subs (Unused) Manson, Aitkenhead, Farquhar, More.
Referee: Graham Beaton
