Wick manager’s thoughts were turning towards shootout before late Huntly goals
Manager Gary Manson admitted his thoughts were turning towards penalties as Wick Academy’s Highland League Cup first-round tie at Huntly entered the closing stages with the teams locked at 2-2.
It was shaping up to be a similar scenario to the Scottish Cup match between the teams at Christie Park at the end of September, when four goals were shared before the Black-and-Golds prevailed 5-3 in the shootout.
On that occasion, the Scorries twice came from behind through goals from Marc Macgregor and Kyle Henderson. On Saturday the pattern was reversed as Academy led twice, Henderson getting the opener with a perfectly placed free kick and Macgregor finishing off a slick move for the second.
However, they were pegged back both times and three goals from the 84-minute mark onwards gave Huntly a convincing victory.
Henderson was sent off for a second yellow card late in the game.
Manson said: “It was similar to our two previous games with Huntly this season. They’ve been close games, all three of them.
“You pick up the paper on a Sunday and see 5-2 and you think it’s a routine win for Huntly, but it was far from that.
“We led twice and at 2-2 the game was firmly in the balance with about six minutes to go. It could have gone either way at that stage.
“It was quite even and your mind starts turning towards penalties again, because it would have gone straight to penalties – it wasn’t extra time.
“Their third goal was a shot out of the blue and on another day Graeme [Williamson] saves that, but it just wasn’t to be.
“There certainly wasn’t that margin in the game. Over the piece, perhaps Huntly shaded it but you could argue a draw would have been a fair result.
“We went 2-1 up shortly after half-time and Kyle had a really good chance to put us 2-1 up before that.
“If we’d held on to the 2-1 lead for maybe a little bit longer it might have been different.”
Henderson’s 15th-minute opener was cancelled out on 37 minutes when Ryan Sewell fired a shot in off a post.
Macgregor’s goal came two minutes after the break, only for Angus Grant to grab Huntly’s second equaliser seven minutes later with a free kick.
Alexander Thoirs put Huntly ahead with a powerful drive with six minutes of the 90 remaining.
Michael Clark turned the ball in from close range for Huntly’s fourth on 89 minutes and Sam Robertson completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Manson said: “We went down with quite a threadbare squad, and I feel for the boys because of the effort they put in and the quality they showed with the goals.
“I said to them before the game, you’re not getting the results that your performances perhaps warrant.
“We’re not doing ourselves justice right now in terms of results. Hopefully that changes soon.”
Meanwhile, an update to the fixture list has given Academy a home match against Turriff United on Saturday, December 7.
The Highland League’s two newest managerial recruits both endured a baptism of fire on Saturday.
Rothes, under recently appointed Ronnie Sharp, were crushed by Formartine United who ran out 8-1 winners in the first round of the Highland League Cup.
Lossiemouth’s new boss Steve Porter saw captain Liam Archibald sent off in the first half as they lost 4-1 in their tie at home to Deveronvale.
Ben Hermiston netted for Vale before James Leslie quickly levelled for the Coasters. Keane Matheson, Olek Dlugosz and Jack Mitchell sealed the win for the visitors.
Andrew Macleod hit a hat-trick as Brora Rangers progressed with a 5-0 win at Keith, all the goals coming in the first period. Michael Finnis and Shane Sutherland got the others.
Fraserburgh captain Willie West made his 700th appearance for the Buchan club in their 2-0 success against Forres Mechanics. Banks O’ Dee hammered Nairn County 6-0 at Station Park, while Brechin City and Buckie Thistle also went through.
Results – Highland League Cup, first round: Brechin City 2, Inverurie Locos 1; Buckie Thistle 2, Clachnacuddin 0; Fraserburgh 2, Forres Mechanics 0; Huntly 5, Wick Academy 2; Keith 0, Brora Rangers 5; Lossiemouth 1, Deveronvale 4; Nairn County 0, Banks O’ Dee 6; Rothes 1, Formartine United 8.
Fixtures for Saturday, November 16 – Highland League: Deveronvale v Nairn County; Formartine United v Clachnacuddin; Keith v Buckie Thistle; Lossiemouth v Brechin City; Rothes v Brora Rangers; Turriff United v Strathspey Thistle; Wick Academy v Inverurie Locos (3pm).
