Wick defeat in seven-goal thriller is ‘deeply frustrating’ for Manson
Manager Gary Manson lamented Wick Academy’s habit of “gifting goals right, left and centre” after they were beaten 4-3 by Forres Mechanics in the Highland League.
The Scorries dominated for long spells but ended up with nothing to show for their efforts after Calum Frame grabbed the winner for the home side 10 minutes from time at Mosset Park on Saturday.
Both teams had a man sent off – Owen Rendall for Wick after 35 minutes and Kyle MacLeod for Forres early in the second half.
The result meant Academy dropped to 15th in the table.
“I thought we were the better team over the piece and to walk away with no points is deeply frustrating because we put so much into the game,” Manson said.
“On another day, we could have comfortably won that game given the quality of our play and the chances we created. I don’t think our goalkeeper [Graeme Williamson] touched the ball in the first 20 minutes – he was just a spectator.
“But unfortunately we are struggling to not concede goals.”
Wick took the lead in the 14th minute through Gary Pullen, but MacLeod levelled five minutes later.
Rendall was sent off by referee Alex Ross 10 minutes before the break and Forres went in ahead thanks to Jordan Alonge’s added-time strike.
The Cans were reduced to 10 men three minutes after the change of ends when goalscorer MacLeod was dismissed.
Forres, though, extended their lead through Mark McLauchlan on 53 minutes.
Academy pulled it back to 3-3 with a goal from Gordon MacNab and Pullen’s second of the afternoon before Matt Jamieson set up Frame to make it 4-3.
Manson said: “We started like a house on fire. We asked them, with a big wide-open pitch, to get the ball down and pass it, create chances and get bodies forward.
“We had them camped in and they couldn’t get out of their own half. We went 1-0 up, it should have been two or three, and then we conceded a freak goal.
“It’s the way it’s going for us in our own box the last few games. We are gifting goals right, left and centre and it is really frustrating.
“In the first half, with the ball, we were exceptional and created loads of chances.”
On the Rendall sending off, Manson said: “I need to watch it back but I thought there were covering defenders.
“At half-time the message was that we were not going to change much because we were causing them so many problems.
“It would have been easy for us to flood back and not concede any more goals, but I felt we were going to score more, which turned out to be right.
“But as things are going at the moment, we are struggling to keep the ball out of our net.
“You are going to struggle to win a game when you concede four goals. We gave it a good shot, we scored three and had really good chances to score more, but you get nothing for that.”
Manson was unimpressed with some of the referee’s decisions.
“I’ve never seen him before and, to be honest, I hope I never see him again,” the manager said.
Deveronvale provided the shock of the afternoon with a 3-2 success against title-chasing Brora Rangers at Princess Royal Park.
Vale flew into a 2-0 lead with Ben Hermiston firing in a double in the opening 18 minutes.
Brora pulled a goal back through Colin Williamson on 48 minutes but the expected comeback didn’t arrive.
Vale restored their two-goal advantage through Rogan Read before the hour mark and held on to win despite Shane Sutherland’s late strike for the Cattachs.
Brora’s slip-up gave Brechin City the chance to extend their lead at the Highland League summit to seven points – and they did so, albeit with a narrow 2-1 win over second-bottom Rothes.
Ewan Loudon gave City the lead on three minutes but saw a penalty saved by Sean McCarthy 10 minutes later. Seth Patrick’s goal on 14 minutes gave Brechin a comfortable advantage.
Ross Logan reduced the deficit in the dying stages.
Rothes are now only three points ahead of bottom club Strathspey Thistle, who picked up a point in a 3-3 draw at Nairn County.
Ben Barron notched a hat-trick for the home side, but goals from Paul Brindle, Filip Franczak and Liam Shewan (penalty) earned the Jags a share of the spoils.
Lossiemouth had a superb 3-1 victory over Fraserburgh at Grant Park.
The Coasters trailed to a Logan Watt goal heading into the final quarter of an hour, but Brodie Christie’s double and a third from David Gofton gave Lossie a notable victory.
Buckie Thistle’s return to form continued with a 4-1 victory over Turriff United.
Highland League results: Brechin City 2, Rothes 1; Buckie Thistle 4, Turriff United 1; Clachnacuddin 0, Banks O’ Dee 3; Deveronvale 3, Brora Rangers 2; Formartine United 3, Huntly 1; Forres Mechanics 4, Wick Academy 3; Keith 0, Inverurie Locos 3; Lossiemouth 3, Fraserburgh 1; Nairn County 3, Strathspey Thistle 3.
Fixtures for Saturday, September 28 – Scottish Cup, round one (ties involving Highland League clubs): Brechin City v Newtongrange Star; Broomhill v Turriff United; Brora Rangers v Cumnock Juniors; Buckie Thistle v Carluke Rovers; Clachnacuddin v Nairn County; Deveronvale v Bo’ness United; Dundonald Bluebell v Inverurie Locos; Formartine United v Whitehill Welfare; Forres Mechanics v Jeanfield Swifts; Fraserburgh v Rothes; Gala Fairydean Rovers v Banks O’ Dee; Huntly v Wick Academy; Keith v Camelon Juniors; Linlithgow Rose v Lossiemouth; Strathspey Thistle v Sauchie Juniors (all 3pm).
