Wick Academy manager confident Orkney pair can handle Highland League football
Wick Academy have signed Orkney duo Toby Macleod and Jamie Flett ahead of this weekend's Highland League trip to Keith.
The pair made a handful of appearances between them as trialists at the start of the season, and one or both could feature at Kynoch Park as the Scorries look to complete a league double over the Maroons.
Macleod is an attacking midfielder, while Flett is a striker.
Manager Gary Manson said: “We've signed up the two Orkney boys now so they'll be in our squad and competing for places.
“Toby has had a hamstring injury recently so we'll see how he is. But certainly Jamie is going to be in the squad for Saturday.
“The two boys are more than keen to come across and play for us. Hopefully they will add to competition for places in that forward area, and they'll add a bit of strength in depth.
“They're both big physical guys that can handle Highland League, no problem."
Ross Allan is suspended and Sean Munro will miss out. Sean Campbell faces a spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off with an ankle injury in Academy's last outing, the 2-1 home victory over Deveronvale two weeks ago.
“There's no break or fracture so it's not as bad as we first feared when he went down," Manson said.
"But he'll be a number of weeks and we'll just need to take our time with him because he's had some problems with his ankles recently. He'll be back when he's back.”
The win against Vale lifted Wick to 10th in the table, while Keith are 14th.
Academy won 1-0 when the teams met at Harmsworth Park at the end of July, courtesy of Gordon MacNab's goal early in the second half.
“We'll go down there fully intent on coming away with the three points,” Manson said.
He added: “The squad is getting stronger all the time. Cameron Montgomery is coming along – he's nearing fitness and he's been training.
"Again, he's one that we want to take our time with because he has had a recurring hamstring injury.
“There's no need to throw him into the squad this Saturday. That'll probably come too soon for him, I would think.”
Academy had no fixture last Saturday so Manson took the opportunity to watch their Scottish Cup opponents Falkirk beating FC Edinburgh 2-0 in SPFL League One.
“They're a top team, there's no doubt about that," Manson said. "They're full-time and they've got some seasoned professionals in their ranks. But we'll have a game plan and see how we get on.”
The Scottish Cup third-round tie will be played at Harmsworth Park on Saturday, November 26.
Academy have been allocated a trip to Huntly on Saturday, December 3, in a rearranged Highland League fixture.
It is one of three league games that have been pencilled in for the same day as the Highland League Cup quarter-finals.
The Scorries were knocked out of the cup by Formartine United in the preliminary round last month.
Academy had mixed fortunes against Huntly in 2021/22, winning 4-3 at Christie Park in November before losing 4-2 at Harmsworth Park in their last game of the season in April.
Formartine staged a dramatic comeback at Huntly at the weekend to reach the quarter-finals of the Highland League Cup.
Two goals by Robbie Foster in the space of a minute had Huntly two up midway through the first half of Saturday's first-round tie, only for Jonny Crawford to quickly pull one back for the Pitmedden men.
Recent signing Aidan Combe netted his first Formartine goal since his move from Fraserburgh to level the scores and Crawford grabbed a stoppage-time winner for the visitors, who had won 2-0 at Wick in the preliminary round.
League leaders Buckie found Deveronvale tough to break down. Jack Murray put the Jags ahead just before the break but a Dane Ballard header brought Vale level with 20 minutes to go.
Buckie were awarded a controversial penalty which Andy Macaskill tucked away, and Max Barry made sure of the win late on.
Forres Mechanics won 2-0 at Keith with a Connor Grant own goal and Ben Barron's spot-kick settling the contest.
Banks O' Dee came back from 2-0 down to knock out holders Brora Rangers on penalties at Dudgeon Park.
Gregor MacDonald and Ally MacDonald scored for the Cattachs before Mark Gilmour's penalty reduced the deficit.
Brora had Mark Nicolson sent off with three-quarters of the tie still to play.
A Lachie MacLeod strike got Dee level before half-time before Dale Gillespie's header edged the 10 men back in front.
Brora were hanging on for victory until MacLeod netted his second in stoppage time to force the shoot-out, which the Aberdeen-based side won 4-3.
Rothes made title chasers Brechin City dig deep for their 4-2 victory at Glebe Park.
Nairn County ran out 3-0 winners at Lossiemouth, with two early goals by Ciaran Young and a second-half effort by Liam Shewan.
League champions Fraserburgh were beaten 2-1 at home by Inverurie Locos.
Turriff had striker Ewan Clark to thank for their 4-0 win at home to Clach in the early kick-off.
Clark scored all four Turriff goals, including a penalty and a goal on the rebound from a second spot-kick.
Results – Highland League Cup, first round: Brechin City 4, Rothes 2; Brora Rangers 3, Banks O' Dee 3 (Banks O' Dee won 4-3 on penalties); Deveronvale 1, Buckie Thistle 3; Fraserburgh 1, Inverurie Locos 2; Huntly 2, Formartine United 3; Keith 0, Forres Mechanics 2; Lossiemouth 0, Nairn County 3; Turriff United 4, Clachnacuddin 0.
Fixtures for Saturday, November 19 – Highland League: Banks O' Dee v Inverurie Locos; Brechin City v Forres Mechanics; Clachnacuddin v Huntly; Fraserburgh v Buckie Thistle; Keith v Wick Academy; Lossiemouth v Deveronvale; Rothes v Nairn County; Strathspey Thistle v Formartine United; Turriff United v Brora Rangers.
Highland League Cup quarter-finals (Saturday, December 3): Banks O' Dee v Forres Mechanics; Formartine United v Buckie Thistle; Nairn County v Brechin City; Turriff United v Inverurie Locos.