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Young Scorries twice come from behind to keep up 100% league record





Matthew Robertson scored a hat-trick as Wick Academy beat Nairn County 5-2 at Naver in SHFL Under 18. Picture: Mel Roger
Matthew Robertson scored a hat-trick as Wick Academy beat Nairn County 5-2 at Naver in SHFL Under 18. Picture: Mel Roger

Wick Academy maintained their 100 per cent record in SHFL Under 18 North but were made to work hard by a gutsy Nairn County side.

The young Scorries twice came from behind at Naver on Sunday before running out 5-2 winners, making it 14 wins out of 14 in the league.

The game started at a fast pace with both teams struggling to put their foot on the ball and take control.

Academy went on to waste several gilt-edged chances in the first half, while at the other end Lewis Swan did brilliantly to defend a three-versus-one and prevent Nairn taking the lead.

Chevy Thompson had been Nairn’s brightest spark and in the 55th minute he fired home from 20 yards to put them ahead.

Wick pushed hard for an equaliser and got their reward on the hour mark when the ball broke kindly to Matthew Robertson, who fired home from 12 yards.

Nairn regained the lead on 65 minutes against the run of play. There was more than a suspicion of offside as the ball broke to Thompson, whose shot took a huge deflection and looped over Jack Ross into the net.

The young Scorries continued to press and it paid off when the ball eventually broke to George Ewing, who tapped in for his 20th goal of the season.

Two minutes later they took the lead as Owen Bain’s floated free kick deceived everyone and dropped into the Nairn net.

Academy were now on song and Robertson smashed in his second and Wick’s fourth on 75 minutes before completing his hat-trick with 10 minutes left with a fine finish from 16 yards.

Coach Derek Shearer said: “It was a different type of game for us, having to come from behind twice. It took a while to get a grip of the game.

“Nairn made it very difficult for us and credit to them, they were a threat on the counter.

“It was one of those days you think the ball is never going to go in the net. Eventually our pressure paid off and turned into goals and the final score was a fair reflection on the game.”

Top six in SHFL Under 18 North: 1 Wick Academy (played 14, points 42); 2 Balloan Thistle (13, 36); 3 Clachnacuddin (17, 31); 4 Forres Mechanics (14, 31); 5 Inverness Athletic (18, 29); 6 Alness United (13, 26).


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