Wick players must pick themselves up for midweek derby clash with Brora
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Wick Academy manager Gary Manson reckons he will have no need to motivate his players for Wednesday night's Highland League encounter with Brora Rangers after being hit by a late “sucker punch” for the second game in a row.
The Scorries succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat to Nairn County on Saturday after conceding in the dying stages, just as they had done a week earlier at Mackessack Park as Rothes hit back to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Manson's men now face Brora at Harmsworth Park in a rearranged midweek fixture.
The manager was frustrated by the manner of Saturday's defeat and is expecting a reaction against the Cattachs.
“They should be able to pick themselves up," Manson said. "It's a derby and there's something wrong if I need to pick them up for that.
“The way we conceded that last goal, and the way we conceded the goal against Rothes, should give them enough fire in their bellies for Wednesday.
“With it being a derby, I shouldn't need to say anything.”
The Scorries started brightly on Saturday and deservedly went ahead after 16 minutes. James Mackintosh slipped a pass through to Marc Macgregor and his angled shot had too much power for goalkeeper Dylan Maclean.
Angus Dey equalised with a brilliant overhead kick after 43 minutes and a draw looked likely until Steven Mackay's late intervention after coming off the bench. The Nairn player/manager got on the end of an Andrew Greig free kick from wide on the left and nodded it in at the back post.
There was a lengthy stoppage while Nairn midfielder Kenny McKenzie and Wick goalie Graeme Williamson received treatment after colliding while they rose to meet a high ball. McKenzie had to be substituted but Williamson was able to carry on.
Nairn's pleas for a penalty were ignored by referee Billy Baxter.
The visitors equalised in spectacular fashion after 43 minutes with an overhead kick by Angus Dey.
Nairn came close to taking the lead 18 seconds into the second half when a shot from Conor Gethins struck the base of Williamson's left post.
The Wick keeper then did well to save a goal-bound effort from substitute Ciaran Young.
Academy's best passage of play in the second half almost brought a goal as a swift exchange between Macgregor and Gordon MacNab led to a shot from the latter which Maclean managed to keep out.
The game looked to be heading for a draw as it entered the 90th minute, but Nairn had other ideas. They earned a free kick wide on the left and Andrew Greig's delivery reached the far post where Mackay rose to nod it in from point-blank range.
Manson said: “The first 20 minutes we had them penned in and they couldn't get out. We dominated the ball and scored a good goal.
“Then we took our foot off the pedal for whatever reason and we just couldn't get going after that.
“The second half was kind of a non-event. Both teams kind of huffed and puffed.
“There was nothing much in it – it was a very even affair.
“They had chances, we had a couple of chances, and we were just hit by a sucker punch at the end again.
“We're having a real problem defending cross balls into our box at the moment, and if you can't do that then you're always going to concede goals and you're not going to win many games. We need to rectify that.”
He added: “There are positives to come out of every game, but we just don't act with conviction in our own box. If you don't do that, it's going to cost you time and time again, which it has done.
“I said to them, we're playing well, we're doing okay, but we're not doing ourselves justice because we're choosing the wrong option at times going forward and not acting with conviction and taking responsibility in our own box. That's what is costing us, I'm afraid.”
Highland League results: Banks O' Dee 2, Formartine United 3; Brechin City 5, Inverurie Locos 1; Clachnacuddin 3, Deveronvale 1; Fraserburgh 4, Keith 0; Lossiemouth 0, Brora Rangers 3; Rothes 2, Forres Mechanics 1; Turriff United 0, Buckie Thistle 1; Wick Academy 1, Nairn County 2.
Highland League fixtures for Wednesday, February 22: Formartine United v Brechin City; Forres Mechanics v Clachnacuddin; Huntly v Keith; Lossiemouth v Banks O' Dee; Rothes v Strathspey Thistle; Wick Academy v Brora Rangers.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, February 25: Brora Rangers v Strathspey Thistle; Buckie Thistle v Clachnacuddin; Deveronvale v Banks O' Dee; Formartine United v Rothes; Fraserburgh v Turriff United; Huntly v Brechin City; Inverurie Locos v Nairn County; Keith v Lossiemouth; Wick Academy v Forres.
