Wick players 'proved that they care' in battling display against Rothes
Wick Academy's spirited display in the goalless draw with Rothes on Saturday demonstrated that the players do care, according to manager Gary Manson.
He said the Scorries' commitment had been called into question by some after the 8-0 capitulation to Clachnacuddin the previous weekend.
"I said to them all week they had a point to prove," Manson said after the full-time whistle at Harmsworth Park.
"That performance was night and day to what they served up last week – the fight, and the willingness to compete and put tackles in and get close to people. That's what we should be doing in every game.
"Last week that was missing in spade-loads. Today it was there."
Manson was shown the red card by referee Scott Donohoe seven minutes from half-time. The Wick boss had been involved in an exchange of words with an assistant referee about the number of substitutes standing, rather than sitting, in the Wick dugout.
Rothes were reduced to 10 men when Ben Williamson was sent off after 82 minutes for a foul on Ross Gunn while the Academy forward was on the ground.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, the best opportunity fell to Gunn in the dying stages when he found himself one-on-one with Sean McCarthy. The former Academy keeper managed to deflect Gunn's effort wide of goal.
"It was a really competitive game between two evenly matched teams so it was no surprise it finished in a draw," Manson said.
"I thought we possibly should have snatched it at the end. Ross Gunn had a golden chance and he is going to score that nine times out of 10. He's beating himself up in there."
Manson added: "They had a lot to prove today. They certainly proved that they care, because that was an accusation that was getting thrown about after last week, that no-one really cared – but they can't level that at them today.
"They put on a really battling performance and should have probably won the game. But the old saying is if you can't win the game, don't lose it, so that's what happened today."
Saturday's result means Academy have kept two clean sheets in their last three Highland League outings, having drawn 0-0 away to Deveronvale in mid-December. Another way of looking at it is that the Scorries have now gone three games without scoring.
"It's something that we're fully aware of but it will come, because we play with plenty of attacking players on the park with lots of ability," Manson said.
"It's just one of those things. You just get into a slight rut and goals don't come easily and things don't fall for you. But that's two clean sheets in three games, which is a positive.
"That one [against Rothes] was a lot more entertaining than the Deveronvale 0-0.
"It was a much better performance than last week, a point on the board and a clean sheet. The competitiveness was what I was after because last week we didn't compete."
Brechin City moved three points clear at the top of the Highland League on Saturday when Euan Spark's goal three minutes after the break secured a 1-0 away victory over Nairn County.
County had won 15 of their last 18 games in all competitions and were unbeaten in 11, including a run of nine straight wins, as they welcomed the champions to Station Park.
Fraserburgh went up to second after a 4-2 win against Deveronvale in Banff.
Inverurie Locos made it four wins in their last six games to continue their climb away from the league's basement area with a 2-1 success at Huntly.
Turriff United produced an impressive comeback from a goal down at half-time to thump Clachnacuddin 5-1 in Inverness.
Brora Rangers still have 22 league games to play in three-and-a-half months following the postponement of their home game versus Lossiemouth.
Highland League results: Clachnacuddin 1, Turriff United 5; Deveronvale 2, Fraserburgh 4; Huntly 1, Inverurie Locos 2; Nairn County 0, Brechin City 1; Wick Academy 0, Rothes 0.
Fixtures – Wednesday, January 10: Keith v Forres Mechanics.
Saturday, January 13: Brechin City v Rothes; Formartine United v Keith; Forres Mechanics v Deveronvale; Fraserburgh v Clachnacuddin; Huntly v Buckie Thistle; Inverurie Locos v Brora Rangers; Lossiemouth v Banks O' Dee; Strathspey Thistle v Nairn County; Turriff United v Wick Academy (3pm).