Wick left paying the penalties after derby ends in draw
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BRORA RANGERS 2
WICK ACADEMY 2
by Matt Leslie
WICK were left paying the penalty having issued two of their own as a pulsating Derby of the North ended all-square.
In a match that saw more penalties being awarded than an A9 speed camera, the one spot kick that Academy fluffed proved to be their undoing.
Brora will be relieved to have got out of jail having been 2-0 down but while Wick’s recent unbeaten record has been extended, it should have been with a win – not a draw.
They got off to a flying start in five minutes when Michael Steven’s surge into the box was halted when he was hauled down.
Sam Mackay stepped up and smashed the ball into the net – something he should have done later on.
Brora had a great chance to level 10 minutes later when Steven Mackay found space in the area only to see his shot brilliantly tipped away at full-stretch by Wick keeper Sean McCarthy.
Three minutes later, Academy were handed a glorious opportunity to extend their lead when Brora’s James Ross foolishly wrapped his arm around Ross Allan’s neck leading to another penalty being awarded to the Scorries.
It is said in footballing circles that if you get two penalties in a match, you change your spot kicker as the last one has already shown his hand and may make a mess of things trying to do something different.
Instead of putting his laces through the ball and lashing it into the net – as he had done previously – Mackay looked as if he was taking his very first penalty.
While the chunk of turf he scooped out headed towards the net, the ball trundled along the ground to allow Joe Malin a comfortable save.
Brora hit back and McCarthy had to be at his best to save from Craig Campbell’s volley from outside the box.
Seven minutes into the second half, Campbell was again thwarted by McCarthy whose reflexes served him well to save the Brora man’s shot at the near post.
In 58 minutes, Wick were given yet another opportunity to score from the spot when Sam Mackay was upended in the box.
Given what happened the last time, Craig Gunn assumed penalty-kick duties and he duly sent Malin the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Wick were looking comfortable so it was only natural a self-inflicted wound would let Brora back in.
A needless tackle inside Academy’s box ended up in Campbell being fouled. Steven Mackay gave Brora a lifeline from the spot.
Having been in a position of their heads being down, Brora’s tails were now up and they proceeded to lay siege to Wick’s goal.
They got their reward in the final minute when Scott Lisle’s cross from the right found an unmarked Kyle Macleod who headed in past McCarthy.
Brora then proceeded to have Ross sent off for a second yellow card offence but they could have won it deep into injury time on for McCarthy to pull off a stunning save from Macleod.
Brora: Malin, Ross, Pickles, Williamson, Graham, S Lisle, Maclean, Nicholson, Brindle (Campbell 10), Macleod, Steven Mackay. Unused subs: C Lisle, Duff, Macrae
Wick: S McCarthy, M Steven, D Mackay, Hardwick, R Allan, Sam Mackay, Hughes (Farquhar 59), Halliday, Anderson, McNab (D. Allan 73), Gunn (G Steven 82). Unused subs: Cameron, Sinclair, D McCarthy.
