Wick Academy targeting first away points after run of postponements
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Wick Academy will be targeting their first away points of the season in the Highland League when they take on Deveronvale on Saturday.
It will be the Scorries' first game since November 25 following a run of three postponements.
Manager Gary Manson said: "Every game is tricky, and when you add in the travelling it adds more difficulties, but we'll be going down there quite confident.
"It seems a long time ago now, but in the last four games that we've played we've come away with a win, a draw and two defeats.
"We had four really good performances against four good teams so the boys should be in good spirits. It's a game in the festive season which is always good to look forward to."
The teams drew 2-2 when they met in Wick in August.
"I've watched it back this week and we really should have won that game," Manson said. "We were by far the better team and the goals that we gave away were really cheap to say the least.
"While it finished as a 2-2 draw, it was certainly a game with more positives than negatives. If we play to the same level on Saturday hopefully we'll come away with a win."
The Scorries have slipped to 15th in the table following their recent spell of inactivity, with Deveronvale one place below them.
Manson's men are still looking for their first away point after five defeats on their travels this season. Their 11 points so far have all been earned at Harmsworth Park.
Their scheduled away games against Keith and Strathspey Thistle earlier this month fell victim to freezing weather, and last weekend's home encounter with Banks O' Dee was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch – a rare occurrence at Harmsworth Park these days following major drainage improvements.
"It's not ideal and there's bound to be some more bad weather coming, so fixture congestion will play a part in the new year," Manson said. "But it's more a headache for the league secretary than it is for us – he's got to try and fit every game in.
"We'll need to wait and see what happens but it'll probably involve quite a few Wednesday night trips down to Keith or Strathspey or whatever, so we'll just need to get on with it.
"Games will be coming thick and fast come January, February and March."
Striker Gordon MacNab is still struggling with a groin injury and is unlikely to return until the new year. Manson said: "It's just the nature of the injury – you can't rush it."
The match at Princess Royal Park in Banff has a 2pm kick-off.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, December 16: Brechin City v Huntly; Brora Rangers v Rothes; Clachnacuddin v Keith; Deveronvale v Wick Academy; Forres Mechanics v Lossiemouth; Fraserburgh v Inverurie Locos; Nairn County v Banks O' Dee; Strathspey Thistle v Formartine United; Turriff United v Buckie Thistle.
