Wick manager says players can be proud after derby loss to Brora
Gary Manson told his Wick Academy players they could be proud of the effort they put in against Brora Rangers despite suffering a 3-0 defeat.
The manager counted about seven clear chances for the Scorries in Saturday’s Highland League derby at Harmsworth Park but he was again left to rue wastefulness in front of goal.
And there were more injury woes as Wick’s two most experienced midfielders, Richard Macadie and Jack Henry, both had to be substituted inside the opening half-hour. Macadie suffered a dead leg after being struck by Brora knee, then Henry went off with a hamstring problem.
“There are so many things you can look at,” Manson said. “The effort the boys put in, the work rate, the quality they showed at times, but also on the flip side how wasteful we were in front of goal.
“You’re playing a team at the top end of the table and you’ve created probably seven really good chances, and to walk away with no goals is disappointing. But I’m really proud of the effort the boys put in, the way they played.”
Brora went ahead after nine minutes when Connor Bunce was adjudged to have been tripped in the penalty box. Bunce rolled the resultant spot-kick to Lewis Gallacher’s right as the keeper dived the other way.
The title-chasing Cattachs doubled their lead on 31 minutes when Matthew Wright turned the ball in from close range after Gallacher had parried a low cross.
There were regular glimpses of goal for the spirited Scorries but Brora offered plenty of attacking intent too, and Gallacher produced a brilliant save to push a shot from Bunce over the bar.
Wright slammed in his second of the afternoon in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Euan Kennedy and George Ewing were in the Wick starting line-up and three other teenagers came off the bench. Macadie and Henry were replaced by Matthew Aitkenhead and Louis Hancock respectively, while Jayden Bremner made an appearance late in the game.
“The young boys are showing up really well with the under-18s, so they are well worthy of their chance and they’re taking it,” Manson said.
The manager confirmed that defender Owen Harrold will be out for the rest of the season.
“We don’t have our problems to seek injury-wise and we picked up another two today,” Manson said. “That’s why you have boys on the sidelines to come on, ready to do a job, and they did.
“Matthew and Louis came on and gave really good accounts of themselves.”
Kennedy and Ewing linked up well and looked the most likely source of goals for Wick.
“That’s what you get with young boys – they don’t know any of these players’ reputations,” Manson said.
“They’re up against Wallace Duffy, who was playing in a Scottish Cup final not that long ago [for Caley Thistle against Celtic in 2023], and Euan Kennedy is winning headers against him.
“It’s really good to see. I have absolutely no problem with playing young boys – I’ve done it since I walked through the door here and I’ll continue to do it as long as I'm here.
“We got no points and no goals today, but the young players that were on that park can walk away with an awful lot of pride in their performance.”
Academy ended a run of eight defeats in all competitions when they beat Rothes 4-0 at the end of January but have since had back-to-back 3-0 defeats, away to Turriff United and now at home to Brora. The Scorries remain third from bottom of the table.
Brechin City surrendered the Highland League leadership after being held by third-placed Banks O’ Dee.
City led twice through Cillian Sheridan and Marc Scott but goals from Michael Philipson and Andy Hunter pegged them back in a 2-2 draw.
Brora’s win at Harmsworth Park lifted them back to the summit, with Brechin having a game in hand.
Buckie Thistle came from behind to thump Rothes 5-1 at Victoria Park. Andy Skinner’s opener for the Speysiders was wiped out by goals from Fin Allen, Lyall Keir, Aaron Nicolson, Andy MacAskill and Josh Peters.
Deveronvale returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Turriff United at Princess Royal Park. Mackenzie Taylor gave Turriff an early lead but Ben Hermiston quickly levelled and Harry Noble netted a stoppage-time penalty.
Lossiemouth led Inverurie Locos through a Lewis McAndrew spot-kick but goals from Jay Halliday, Lloyd Robertson and Cole Anderson gave Locos a 3-1 victory.
Formartine United beat Fraserburgh 2-1 at North Lodge Park. Three games were postponed.
Highland League results: Brechin City 2, Banks O’ Dee 2; Buckie Thistle 5, Rothes 1; Deveronvale 2, Turriff United 1; Formartine United 2, Fraserburgh 1; Lossiemouth 1, Inverurie Locos 3; Wick Academy 0, Brora Rangers 3.
Highland League fixtures – Friday, February 14: Inverurie Locos v Deveronvale. Saturday, February 15: Brechin City v Buckie Thistle; Clachnacuddin v Huntly; Formartine United v Strathspey Thistle; Forres Mechanics v Banks O’ Dee; Fraserburgh v Wick Academy; Keith v Rothes; Turriff United v Brora Rangers.
Wednesday, February 19: Banks O’ Dee v Formartine United; Brechin City v Keith; Brora Rangers v Strathspey Thistle; Deveronvale v Fraserburgh; Rothes v Forres Mechanics; Wick Academy v Clachnacuddin (8pm).
Highland League bottom four: 15 Lossiemouth (played 24, points 16, goal difference -33); 16 Wick Academy (24, 16, goal difference -39); 17 Rothes (22, 10, goal difference -63); 18 Strathspey Thistle (19, 9, goal difference -45).