Manson praises defensive resilience as Wick Academy get the better of Clach
Wick Academy player/manager Gary Manson praised his team's improved defensive resilience as they maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 1-0 midweek victory over Clachnacuddin in the Highland League.
The Scorries recorded only three clean sheets during the whole of last season but have equalled that total before the end of August after defeating Keith, Turriff United and now the Lilywhites at Harmsworth Park.
However, they have lost all their away games so far and will be seeking to put that right when they take on bottom club Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park on Saturday.
The only goal on Wednesday came after 54 minutes when a free kick wide on the left by Harry Hennem found its way through a crowded box and ended up in the net. Mark Macadie suggested tongue-in-cheek after the game that the ball might have taken a touch off one of his bootlaces, but it will go down as Hennem's first goal since joining on loan from Caley Thistle.
Clach pushed for an equaliser and had a strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Gordon Seago with six minutes to go when substitute Lewis Mackenzie appeared to be bundled over in the box.
“You're always going to have to defend – you're not going to go through a full 90 minutes without having to put bodies on the line and sit in for a few minutes," Manson said. "That's what we did in the last 10 minutes – we just sat in, defended our lead and saw the game out.
“You can see a different side to us this season, I think. Last season we would definitely have conceded a goal, but I'm seeing a different side to us – a more determined will to keep a clean sheet. It's really good to see.
“Obviously you want to go forward and score loads and loads of goals, but every football manager will tell you that keeping a clean sheet is just as important. If you don't concede, you don't lose a game.
“I am thoroughly delighted with that. Coming off the back of last week's game against Clach [a 3-0 defeat in the North of Scotland Cup] and then a disappointing defeat against Lossiemouth on Saturday, that was brilliant.
“Hopefully we'll start to get a settled squad now and have some selection issues.”
He added: “Our away form is letting us down so far this season. We're having to rely on our home form, so hopefully we'll put that right on Saturday. We'll go down there full of confidence and hopefully take the three points back up the road.”
Academy came close in the first half when a powerful shot by Gordon MacNab clattered down from the underside of the crossbar. Soon after, Mark Macadie cut the ball back to Mark Munro in the six-yard box but his effort was deflected wide.
Clach's Ross Logan burst through and fired in a shot that struck the base of a post before being gathered by keeper Graeme Williamson.
In the second half Clach's Shaun Sutherland went on a marauding run and his long-range drive was tipped over by Williamson.
Robbie Thompson smashed a shot against the bar before a back-post header by Gary Warren was saved on the line by the Wick goalie.
MacNab had a chance to make sure of the points when he ran clear in the inside-left channel, but there was not enough power in his shot and it was a comfortable save for Daniel Rae.
Williamson was called into action again to beat away a curling effort from Thompson.
Clach manager Jordan MacDonald said his players need to show more composure in the final third. The Lilywhites have lost five of their opening six Highland League fixtures going into Saturday's trip to Aberdeen to take on Highland League newcomers Banks O' Dee.
“We've got to get ourselves out of this wee rut," MacDonald said. "It's up to us to do it."
MacDonald was adamant Clach should have been awarded a penalty when Mackenzie went down under a Wick challenge.
“It was a stonewall penalty," MacDonald insisted. "Why would he go down when he's clean through on the goalkeeper?
“His shirt was pulled. It's a foul. It's a penalty. It was the wrong decision. Everybody in the ground knew it was a penalty."
MacDonald added: “We didn't deserve to lose the game but we're lacking a wee bit of composure in the final third at the moment.
“It has been like that for us this season – we're slashing at things, we're rushing things. Even when we're trying to play out, we're rushing it when we maybe don't need to rush it.
“I just feel our decision-making is what has cost us tonight. It was a really soft goal to concede – it was poor, poor defending.
“It wasn't even that good a ball into the box but we've not dealt with it.
“We were playing against a good side. They are hard to play against up here. They make it difficult for you any time you play them, to be honest.
"We knew we were going to be in for a scrap tonight. They've got injuries and everything else but that galvanises you a wee bit sometimes.
"We deserved a lot more."
Wick Academy: Williamson, Hughes, Manson, R Allan, Anderson (C Farquhar 51), Henry, Mackintosh, Hennem, MacNab, M Macadie, Munro. Subs not used: More, Bain, Halliday, Innes.
Clachnacuddin: Rae, R Mackenzie, Black, Cormack, Warren, Gillies, Logan (Bunce 68), Callum (Sutherland 57), Anderson, Thompson, Brindle (L Mackenzie 68). Subs not used: Riddle, Morrison, F Mackenzie, Sienkowski.
Referee: Gordon Seago.
Highland League results from Wednesday: Deveronvale 0, Inverurie Locos 3; Huntly 1, Formartine United 2; Keith 2, Rothes 3; Lossiemouth 4, Strathspey Thistle 2; Turriff United 1, Banks O' Dee 1; Wick Academy 1, Clachnacuddin 0.
Fixtures for Saturday: Banks O' Dee v Clachnacuddin; Brechin City v Lossiemouth; Formartine United v Brora Rangers; Forres Mechanics v Keith; Huntly v Deveronvale; Inverurie Locos v Buckie Thistle; Nairn County v Fraserburgh; Rothes v Turriff United; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy.
