Wick aiming to 'right some wrongs' as Clach visit Harmsworth Park
Wick Academy manager Gary Manson is hoping his players will have learned a few lessons from last week's cup defeat against Clachnacuddin as the teams prepare to meet again on Wednesday night.
The Scorries were beaten 3-0 by the Lilywhites in their North of Scotland Cup quarter-final but now have an opportunity to gain a measure of revenge with Highland League points at stake.
Academy have taken maximum points from their two games at home so far, keeping clean sheets in both, but have been beaten in their three away league fixtures – the latest being Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Lossiemouth.
"Last Wednesday was kind of a bolt out of the blue," Manson said. "We lost three goals in 20-odd minutes and that doesn't happen often.
"Hopefully the boys have learned their lesson to a certain degree and we know exactly what we're facing against Clach this time, so there should be no surprises for us on Wednesday night. We just need to dust ourselves down from Saturday and try to right some wrongs."
Gordon MacNab put Academy in front at Lossiemouth with a penalty in the 47th minute after Jack Halliday had been bundled over in the box.
Wick were reduced to 10 men on 63 minutes when Ryan Campbell was shown a straight red. It was Academy's second sending off in as many games, following Jack Henry's dismissal against Clach.
The Coasters took advantage with two goals in the closing 15 minutes. Liam Archibald equalised and Adam MacLeod, on loan from Buckie, grabbed the winner in the 87th minute.
"In truth it wasn't a great game," Manson said. "The pitch was a bit fiery and it wasn't easy to play football on. Both teams were scrappy, I would say.
"Once we got our noses in front early in the second half we were comfortable. We were the team on top.
"Then we got another man sent off, very similar to Wednesday night. It's always an uphill battle with 10 men.
"Their tails were up then – they could maybe sense that they could get back into the game, and they did."
Campbell will be suspended for the Clach match and the Scorries are likely to have a number of other absentees.
"We'll just need to see what we've got on Wednesday and then go with that," Manson said.
With goalkeepers Graeme Williamson and James More both unavailable for the trip to Lossiemouth, Academy brought in Corey Paterson on an emergency loan from Caley Thistle.
Buckie Thistle's 29-match unbeaten run in the Highland League was ended by Brechin City on Saturday, allowing Brora Rangers to take over top spot on goal difference.
Brechin won 1-0 at Glebe Park thanks to Grady McGrath's early strike.
Graeme Stewart's side had won 28 and drawn one of their last 29 league matches – the draw coming at home to Wick Academy near the end of last season – but Brechin made it five wins out of five this term.
Brora were 4-0 winners at Rothes with goals by Andy Macrae (2), Tony Dingwall (penalty) and Max Ewan.
Forres made it four wins out of five in the league by beating Huntly 3-0 at Mosset Park. Martin Groat, Ben Barron and Ethan Cairns got the goals, leaving Huntly still looking for their first league win.
Deveronvale twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Nairn County, who are also seeking their first win of the season.
Banks O' Dee hammered Keith 8-0, while Fraserburgh went one better with a runaway 9-0 victory away to Strathspey Thistle with Scott Barbour scoring a hat-trick.
Turriff United continued their encouraging start with a 4-1 win away to Clachnacuddin.
Inverurie Locos and Formartine United drew 1-1 at Harlaw Park.
Highland League fixtures for Wednesday: Deveronvale v Inverurie Locos; Huntly v Formartine United; Keith v Rothes; Lossiemouth v Strathspey Thistle; Turriff United v Banks O' Dee; Wick Academy v Clachnacuddin (8pm).
Saturday, August 27: Banks O' Dee v Clachnacuddin; Brechin City v Lossiemouth; Formartine United v Brora Rangers; Forres Mechanics v Keith; Huntly v Deveronvale; Inverurie Locos v Buckie Thistle; Nairn County v Fraserburgh; Rothes v Turriff United; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy.
