Pullen says Wick Academy must work hard to get out of rut
Gary Pullen has acknowledged Wick Academy will need to keep working hard to get out of the “rut” that has seen them lose their last four games in all competitions.
The 20-year-old midfielder from Golspie scored in Saturday’s Highland League encounter with Inverurie Locos at Harmsworth Park but it was not enough to prevent the visitors running out 2-1 winners.
Turriff United’s victory over bottom side Strathspey Thistle meant Academy dropped to 15th in the table.
Academy rarely got out of their own half in the first 45 minutes, playing down the slope into the wind and wintry showers, and could have had no complaints about finding themselves two goals down.
Pullen got Academy back into the game with a neat finish just after the hour mark.
“We had a few chances at the end there, half-chances really,” he said. “On another day one of them might have gone in but it’s probably a fair result in the end.
“Our first half was very poor. It was just a one-sided game in the first half.
“Once we got into the game it was far better with two teams going at it hammer and tongs.”
The Scorries have now lost their last six home league games. They are fourth from bottom, five points better off than Strathspey Thistle, who continue to prop up the table after losing 4-0 at Turriff.
Academy are three points ahead of Lossiemouth and Rothes.
Pullen added: “We were poor in the first half of last season but in the second half we had a good home record, so we’ve just got to hope we can do that again.
“We’ve just got to keep on working and try to get out of this rut.”
Inverurie took just five minutes to open the scoring when Cole Anderson tapped in a deep cross from the right.
Another ball in from the right allowed Mark Souter to double Locos’ lead with a glancing header on 32 minutes.
Pullen halved the deficit after 63 minutes when he latched onto a pass from Davie Allan and side-footed the ball beyond goalkeeper Louis Amann.
From that point, the Scorries were transformed as the momentum of the game swung their way. They posed much more of a threat going forward, helped by some clever flicks and incisive passes, but they couldn’t find a second goal.
Kyle Henderson, who had come agonisingly close from a free kick at the end of the first half, had the best chance to grab an equaliser but headed the ball over the bar.
Wick manager Gary Manson said: “We’re really disappointed to come away with nothing from the game as I thought for most of the second half we were very good.
“However, the damage was done in the first half, when we were far too passive, and if you allow good players time and space they’ll hurt you.”
Inverurie head coach Dean Donaldson admitted his players have been finding it difficult to kill off the opposition after Wick Academy produced a battling display in the second half of Saturday’s Highland League match at Harmsworth Park.
Locos dominated the first period and led 2-0 after Cole Anderson and Mark Souter got on the end of crosses into the box from the right. Gary Pullen’s strike just after the hour mark gave Wick a new lease of life but, much improved as they were, the Scorries couldn’t find an equaliser.
Donaldson said: “It’s just the story of Inverurie Locos. That happens in most games – we’re on top for long spells but we can’t seem to put teams away just now.
“We had a lot of teenagers playing there and they’re still finding their way a wee bit. I’m really pleased to get the result up here.”
The Wick players wore the unfamiliar combination of sky blue away shirts with the black shorts and socks of their home kit, as referee Owen Lawrence saw a potential colour clash between Academy’s customary black-and-white stripes and Locos’ all-white change strip.
Meanwhile, Kieran MacGregor has gone to Halkirk United on loan until the end of the season.
Highland League results: Deveronvale 2, Nairn County 1; Formartine United 1, Clachnacuddin 0; Keith 3, Buckie Thistle 1; Lossiemouth 1, Brechin City 3; Rothes 0, Brora Rangers 7; Turriff United 4, Strathspey Thistle 0; Wick Academy 1, Inverurie Locos 2.
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, November 23: Banks O’ Dee v Formartine United; Brechin City v Keith; Clachnacuddin v Lossiemouth; Fraserburgh v Wick Academy; Inverurie Locos v Deveronvale; Nairn County v Buckie Thistle; Rothes v Forres Mechanics; Strathspey Thistle v Huntly; Turriff United v Brora Rangers.
Wick Academy’s conquerors Huntly will be at home to Deveronvale in the quarter-finals of the Highland League Cup on Saturday, December 7.
Buckie Thistle take on Fraserburgh at Victoria Park that day, while Brora Rangers have a home tie against Formartine United. Banks O’ Dee welcome Brechin City to Spain Park in the other last-eight tie on Friday, December 6.
