Manson says Wick Academy need to find 'killer touch'
Wick Academy manager Gary Manson says his players need to find a "killer touch" after back-to-back defeats in the Highland League.
The Scorries are at home to third-placed Formartine United on Saturday and Manson hopes they can build on their encouraging second-half display against Inverurie Locos last weekend.
Trailing by two goals at the break, Academy went on to dominate the second half. They reduced the deficit through a Richard Macadie penalty but couldn't find an equaliser.
“We're expecting Formartine to be similar to Inverurie," Manson said. "But you just need to look at their results and league table position to know they're maybe a step ahead of them.
“What I said to the boys after the game last week was that second half was really good in all aspects of the game apart from that final touch, the final shot, the final pass, the final cross.
“That's the next step they need to take – take everything from that second-half performance last week but then just add that killer touch.
“It's something that is possibly lacking from the squad this season. We don't have an out-and-out goal poacher and a lot of these teams that we're coming up against do have that.
“We knew we were kind of deficient in that area squad-wise, but it's something that we need to come up with solutions for.”
Jack Halliday, James Mackintosh and Sean Munro are set to return this weekend.
Richard Macadie is unavailable and Jack Henry is still out, while recent signing Cameron Montgomery will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half against Inverurie.
Manson said: “He's struggling with his hamstring at the moment but he is seeing a rehabilitation specialist so hopefully that will sort him out and put him on a good path.
“He might be out for the next four, five or six weeks but hopefully after that he'll be good to go.
“There's probably three out from Saturday but three coming back in. It's very rare that we have a fully fit squad.”
The Inverurie result was Academy's second defeat in four days, following the 4-2 loss at Forres the previous midweek, leaving them 14th in the table.
Saturday's fixture against Formartine is the second of five successive home games for Manson's team, including Scottish Cup and Highland League Cup ties.
Highland League results: Brora Rangers 0, Brechin City 3; Buckie Thistle 2, Banks O' Dee 2; Deveronvale 0, Rothes 1; Formartine United 2, Forres Mechanics 0; Fraserburgh 5, Clachnacuddin 0; Huntly 3, Nairn County 1; Keith 6, Strathspey Thistle 1; Turriff United 1, Lossiemouth 2; Wick Academy 1, Inverurie Locos 2.
Fixtures – Friday: Banks O' Dee v Fraserburgh. Saturday: Brechin City v Keith; Clachnacuddin v Lossiemouth; Forres Mechanics v Deveronvale; Inverurie Locos v Huntly; Nairn County v Brora Rangers; Rothes v Buckie Thistle; Strathspey Thistle v Turriff United; Wick Academy v Formartine United.
