Wick Academy will go 'hell for leather' against Vale with stronger squad available
Wick Academy will be going "hell for leather" in a bid to pick up their first three points of the 2023/24 Highland League season when they take on Deveronvale at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
Manager Gary Manson will have a much stronger squad at his disposal than for the 4-0 opening-day defeat against Banks O' Dee.
Vale were one of only two teams to finish below the Scorries last season. However, Craig Stewart's side got off to a winning start at the weekend with a 1-0 home victory over Keith.
Academy have made seven signings this summer and supporters can look forward to seeing the newcomers in competitive action at Harmsworth Park for the first time, barring any injuries at training.
Forward Ross Gunn is the latest addition, having joined from Brora Rangers this week. Defenders Rob McLean and Owen Harrold, midfielders James Mackay, Gary Pullen and Marc Coghill and forward Kyle Henderson had earlier agreed two-year deals.

“We're quite strong on Saturday," Manson said. "What I've been striving for, over two or three years now, is to have a strong bench that can make an impact, so when you're subbing someone on it's like-for-like quality. We'll have that on Saturday, which is really good.
“It's a completely different game from last Saturday. Last week we were short of numbers and were up against one of the title favourites in the first game of the season away from home, which is always difficult.
“We'll be going hell for leather to win the game, there's no two ways about it. You don't settle for anything less than that against a team in the bottom half of the table at home.
"We're hell-bent on starting our season on Saturday and trying to get three points on the board.”
The Scorries ran out 2-1 winners when Deveronvale last visited Harmsworth Park, in November 2022.
Meanwhile, experienced midfielder Richard Macadie has been appointed as club captain, following on from Alan Farquhar.
Macadie (36) is Academy's record scorer, having found the net 203 times in 605 appearances since making his debut 20 years ago this week.
Manson said: "You get all sorts of different captains. You might associate a captain with shouting and bawling at players on the pitch. But you can be a captain in many different ways and Richie leads by example in everything that he does – how he trains and how he conducts himself.
“He has become a wee bit more vocal on the pitch in terms of organising. Yes, he doesn't shout and bawl, but you don't need to do that – you can organise in different ways.
“He is definitely the logical pick for that.”
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 4, Wick Academy 0; Brechin City 1, Formartine United 0; Clachnacuddin 2, Buckie Thistle 3; Deveronvale 1, Keith 0; Forres Mechanics 2, Strathspey Thistle 1; Fraserburgh 3, Lossiemouth 1; Nairn County 0, Brora Rangers 1; Rothes 1, Huntly 4; Turriff United 4, Inverurie Locos 1.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, August 5: Banks O' Dee v Nairn County; Buckie Thistle v Turriff United; Formartine United v Strathspey Thistle; Huntly v Brechin City; Inverurie Locos v Fraserburgh; Keith v Clachnacuddin; Lossiemouth v Forres Mechanics; Rothes v Brora Rangers; Wick Academy v Deveronvale.