Wick Academy take on league giants
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Aberdeen’s second favourite team is travelling to Harmsworth Park in a strong league position but, with home advantage, the Scorries may be the favoured underdogs for tomorrow’s 3pm fixture.
Academy manager Davie Kirkwood knows the team is capable of being a giant slayer, having already taken the scalps of Forres, Fraserburgh, Nairn and Buckie this season.
Kirkwood is looking forward to the game.
“It was a close game the last time we played,” he said. “But I don’t think Cove will be relishing coming up this weekend. Our players just need to give 100 per cent like they did last Saturday – we just need to tighten up a little bit.”
He added: “If we can rectify our mistakes then we won’t go far wrong.”
Last week’s 5-4 loss in the Highland League Cup to Deveronvale was “gut wrenching”, said Kirkwood.
However, the game – and the cup challenge – is now behind them and it is time to be proud and live up to expectations as this season’s form team.
“I think our guys have to hold their heads up, especially with what they have done this season, for being such a young group,” he said. “There is nothing to be ashamed of from last weekend and I think they will just get stronger and stronger. Our spirits will definitely be up on Saturday.”
Midfielder Craig Shearer, defender Stewart Ross and keeper Alan Bokas are all set to return. But forward Sam Mackay will sit this one out after clocking up five bookings, meaning a one-game suspension.
“It’s a blow,” he said. “But there are players coming back in that can more than fill the space.”
The Scorries are now entering the home straight of the 2011/12 season with a string of home games and one away match ahead.
“We want to finish as high as possible but we will be taking each game as it comes,” said Kirkwood.
“There’s no guarantee that just because we have eight home games that we are going to win eight games. It’s about preparation, getting players up for the cause and, ultimately, it will be them who decide where we end up.”
The Scorries manager said spirits can be lifted and so can Academy’s league position by a strong show of support and urged fans to rally the squad on to a successful finish.
“Fans don’t have far to travel now in the run-up to the end of the season,” he said. “Let’s get out and give the boys a rousing reception.”
However, either Kirkwood is wrong that Cove won’t be relishing the trip to Wick or manager Kevin Tindal plays a good game of poker.
He told the John O’Groat Journal he is “extremely looking forward” to the game.
“There’s no doubt that Wick on their day are one of the best teams in the league,” he said.
“So we know this game is going to be a big one. Saying that, every game for us from now until the end of the season is going to be a big one.”
Tindal added: “We’ve just got to apply ourselves properly and get a result.”
The Cove manager is trying not to hype the game up too much with seven more matches to go before the season’s end.
“Our focus is just got to be on our own performance and the result that we can get,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it was ‘do-or-die’ by any manner of means.”
Tindal is missing star striker Danny Milne who broke his arm three weeks ago but the Cove boss remains confident.
“It’s a massive loss to have Danny out,” he said. “But we have very able deputies to step in.”
