Wick's derby demolition a sign of the future
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The coach said the squad showed that after struggling in the bottom half of the table last season, the Scorries are a cut above the lower-league teams.
He now wants the side’s confidence to carry on next season and said if it happens, the Caithness men will have a realistic shot of challenging for the title.
“We had a good crowd at Harmsworth Park who are starting to realise that we are playing a brand of entertaining football that is worth watching,” he said.
“There are still five games to go before the season finishes, but we are also now looking further ahead to next season’s campaign. From what I’ve seen since joining the setup in the autumn, Wick Academy have the potential to challenge for the title.
“There is a group of talented young players in the squad that are as a good as any other team in the league and we have the best manager in the Highland League by a mile.
“Davie Kirkwood has an abundance of experience of playing the game at a professional level and it is obvious to everyone that his influence is starting to rub off on the lads.”
Mulheron was full of praise for Gary Weir who scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 win, saying he asked the striker to score at least two goals.
He also paid tribute to goalkeeper Michael Gray who got his first clean sheet of the season since signing from North Caley League side Thurso FC.
The coach recognised Brora have had a disappointing campaign after losing the majority of their squad in pre-season, and argued the Scorries could have been more clinical in front of goal.
“It was a typical derby game as you never know what to expect in the outcome. Sometimes they can be close-run affairs but on this occasion it was a one-sided contest where we came out on top.
“Brora have had their problems this season and are probably looking ahead to next year, but at the same time I didn’t think we played as well as we could. The scoreline didn’t flatter us at all and I thought at times in the game we could have dug in more in the first half.
“But we had a talk with the players at the interval and we saw an improved performance from the lads.”
Brora Rangers manager Andy MacLeod was forced to field seven school pupils in the clash as he admitted he struggled to field a team with seven regular players out.
But he offered no excuses, saying the six-goal margin reflected how the game panned out.
“Sometimes you’ve got to take it on the chin and admit that the better team won,” he said. “Wick outclassed us, outplayed us and outworked us and I have to give credit where credit is due.
“There were seven players on the pitch who were 16 years old and it was an opportunity to give them the experience of playing in a derby clash.
“We’ve got two exciting games left against Buckie and Clach where we will hope to take something out of both matches, but we are now looking ahead to next season.”
