More points on the road will be Wick target for next season
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Manager Gary Manson admitted Wick Academy’s away results have been “absolutely rotten” after their penultimate fixture of the 2023/24 Highland League campaign ended in a 1-0 defeat to Brora Rangers.
In contrast, the Scorries’ home form has been impressive, especially since the turn of the year, and Manson said the aim will be to replicate that on their travels next season.
Wednesday’s far north derby was switched from Dudgeon Park to King George V Park in Golspie and it proved to be a drab affair. The decisive moment came on 64 minutes when Tony Dingwall’s cross found Colin Williamson who scored with a close-range header.
“While we’re disappointed with the outcome, we have to take positives from every game,” Manson said. “We have done that certainly at home, but our away form has been absolutely rotten for some reason.
“We don’t know why. But we have shown that we can compete with the top guys and our home form has been really good. Next season we will try and replicate that but pick up more points on the road.”
Asked whether he felt the match had an end-of-season feel to it, Manson replied: “Certainly in the first half. I thought it got a wee bit feisty in the second half.
“It was a bit weird playing at a neutral ground for a start. There weren’t that many fans and it had that kind of feel to it.
“I thought we were looking all right at the end of the first half – probably half-time came at the wrong time for us.
“But we started the second half really poorly. Their goal was coming for about 15 to 20 minutes. We were throwing bodies on the line, but you can’t continue like that.”
Wick Academy go into their last league game of the season at Keith on Saturday knowing that three points would lift them into 12th place in the table.
The midweek loss to Brora means the Scorries remain 13th, level on 33 points with Keith who have a better goal difference. Gary Manson’s side therefore need to win to climb above the Maroons in the final standings.
Academy won eight, drew five and lost only four of their 17 league fixtures at Harmsworth Park in 2023/24, but on their travels they have managed only one win and one draw along with 14 defeats.
“It’s not often you still have something to play for, albeit it is a small thing to play for,” Manson said. “But if we beat Keith we will finish above them and that is what we are aiming to do.”
Manson revealed that Academy’s preparations for next season are already well under way.
“You never stop planning,” he said. “The planning for next season started in January. Luckily for next season all our boys have signed up, apart from Jack Halliday who is moving away.
“Apart from that our squad is pretty constant. It will be a case of just adding one or two and that will be it.”
Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Wick means Brora Rangers will finish sixth in the league, irrespective of the outcome of their final fixture against Turriff United this weekend.
Ally MacDonald will then be standing down from his role as player/manager.
“We got the win and that was the most important thing,” MacDonald said.
“But the game itself, the quality was poor. The first half especially was poor and we didn’t get out of first gear.
“That was the message at half-time. We thought we got as good as we were going to get from Wick so we had to step it up a bit.
“We showed that in the second half and in a 10 to 15-minute spell we put the pressure on and got the goal. Fair play to the boys to have the desire to still win these games. We got what we wanted.
“Hopefully we can finish off with a win.”
MacDonald didn’t feature on the park on Wednesday night after picking up a hamstring injury in the 2-1 defeat to Brechin City.
“Hopefully I can get involved in it on Saturday,” he said. “I just want to go out on a positive note with a win. We will look to do that and enjoy our night.”
On life after Brora Rangers, he said: “I am just looking forward to a bit of rest and switching off. It has been a long time. I have no plans.
“Being at Brora as a player and a manager, I’m looking to get a bit of a life back and time away.
“I’m not hanging up the boots yet – I’ve got a wee bit of football left in me. I don’t know whether my stock has dropped, as it is only North Caledonian League offers I have been getting, not any Highland League offers – maybe that is where I am.
“But it was the management aspect which brought about my decision. It was a big commitment and fair play to everyone who does it.
“I need a couple of months away and then see where I am football-wise near the start of the next season.”
