Wick manager expects another ‘tight affair’ against Deveronvale
Wick Academy have two more opportunities to pick up Highland League points before the turn of the year – starting with a trip to Banff this weekend to take on Deveronvale.
The Scorries, who are 15th in the 18-team division, will then bring down the curtain on 2024 against Buckie Thistle at Harmsworth Park on December 28.
Academy have been thwarted by the weather over the past two Saturdays, with their scheduled matches against Turriff United (home) and Strathspey Thistle (away) both being postponed.
Manager Gary Manson said: “It’s that time of year – it’s no surprise. It looks okay for the weekend, so hopefully we’ll get a game.”
It will mean an early start for the Wick team bus, as the kick-off time is 1.30pm. The floodlights at Princess Royal Park suffered storm damage a year ago and new ones are being installed.
The Scorries have lost their last five games in all competitions. Their last outing was the 2-1 home defeat to Huntly at the end of November.
Vale, now managed by well-travelled forward Garry Wood, edged a 1-0 win when the teams met at Harmsworth Park in August.
An unstoppable second-half strike by Olek Dlugosz proved decisive in what Manson described at the time as a drab affair.
“They are a much-improved team this year with a new manager and new players,” Manson said.
“The game in Wick was nip and tuck – it could have gone either way. It probably should have ended up in a 0-0 draw but their player scored a world-class goal.
“That was the only difference between the two teams in Wick. I imagine it’ll be a tight affair on Saturday again and hopefully we can come out on top this time.
“We have an away game on the Saturday before Christmas and then a nice home one to look forward to in between Christmas and New Year.
“If we can get a win on Saturday it’ll set us up nicely for the Buckie game and we’ll see what happens in that one.”
Goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher, who signed for Academy earlier this month, and forward Euan Kennedy, who has joined on loan from Ross County, will be in the squad for Saturday.
Highland League results: Banks O’ Dee 5, Keith 0; Brora Rangers 3, Forres Mechanics 1; Fraserburgh 1, Buckie Thistle 1; Nairn County 2, Clachnacuddin 2; Turriff United 2, Formartine United 2.
Highland League fixtures – Saturday, December 21: Brechin City v Fraserburgh; Buckie Thistle v Huntly; Clachnacuddin v Inverurie Locos; Deveronvale v Wick Academy (1.30pm); Formartine United v Brora Rangers; Forres Mechanics v Strathspey Thistle; Keith v Rothes; Lossiemouth v Turriff United; Nairn County v Banks O’ Dee.
Saturday, December 28: Brora Rangers v Lossiemouth; Forres Mechanics v Formartine United; Fraserburgh v Clachnacuddin; Huntly v Brechin City; Inverurie Locos v Banks O’ Dee; Rothes v Nairn County; Turriff United v Keith; Wick Academy v Buckie Thistle (3pm).