Victory over Strathspey makes it longest unbeaten run in six years for Wick Academy
Wick Academy extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 3-2 victory over Strathspey Thistle – equalling last season’s overall points tally of 36 with one game to go.
The Scorries have picked up six wins and an away draw since February 22, making it their longest undefeated sequence in the Highland League for more than six years.
They have collected more points from their last seven games than they did in their first 26. Academy remain 14th in the table ahead of this weekend’s visit to Inverurie.
Kyle Henderson, Mark Macadie and Euan Kennedy got their goals at Seafield Park on Saturday, with James McShane and Daniel Whitehorn replying for the second-bottom Jags.
“It probably should have been even more high-scoring than it was,” manager Gary Manson said. “Both teams missed some clear-cut chances.
“We were missing a few players and it was always going to be a difficult game.
“We were 3-1 up and really comfortable going into the last 10 minutes and I thought they weren’t causing us too many problems at all at that stage.
“It was looking like we were just going to cruise home and run out 3-1 winners, but they scored with about seven minutes to play and that made it a little bit more uncomfortable than it should have been.
“Goals change games, but credit to the boys – they saw it over the line and it keeps the run going for us.”
Strathspey have won only three league fixtures this season but they have earned five draws and have become a lot harder to beat.
“In years gone by they were getting beaten five, six or seven-nil but their defeats now are really close-run games,” Manson said.
“They’ve got some good players. It was a good competitive game, but thankfully we came out on top.”
Wick forward Mark Macadie (22) has signed a two-year contract extension, at a time when his older brother Richard is ending his Highland League playing career.
Manson said: “Mark has scored three goals since he returned from injury, so he’s back on good form now and we want him to be fit, healthy and strong for next season.”
The current unbeaten run in the league is the longest by a Wick side since a spell between January and March 2019 when they went eight games undefeated during Tom McKenna’s time in charge.
In December and January 2021/22 the Scorries won six league matches in a row. Indeed they won eight out of nine – taking 24 points from a possible 27 – but the third result in that nine-game sequence was a loss.
Veteran striker Gary Weir (37), who quit the Highland League at the end of the 2016/17 campaign but still plays county league football, joined the Wick squad for the trip to Grantown and made a brief appearance off the bench as a trialist.
“Gary has always said he’s only a phone call away if we’re ever in need of him,” Manson said. “He’s handy to have just as a back-up.”
The Highland League title race is going down to the final day of the season but it looks set to be a formality for Brora Rangers.
They are at home on Saturday to bottom club Rothes, who have lost 17 of their last 18 league games, and three points will be enough barring an unthinkable combination of results.
Brechin City remain level on points with the Cattachs, but the Sutherland outfit have a vastly superior goal difference.
Second-half goals by Craig MacKenzie and Shane Sutherland secured a 2-0 victory over Huntly at Dudgeon Park.
Brechin defeated Nairn County 3-0 in their penultimate fixture with all the goals coming within six first-half minutes from Brad McKay and Cillian Sheridan (2).
City are at home to Lossiemouth this weekend and will be looking to take advantage of any slip-up from the leaders – but it seems highly unlikely.
Wick Academy’s last-day opponents, Inverurie Locos, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Turriff.
A first-half own goal by Milosz Ochmanski had Turriff in front but Locos’ Mark Souter scored twice in the closing six minutes.
Forres Mechanics followed up their 3-0 success at Lossiemouth in midweek with a 4-1 win against Keith at Mosset Park.
Rothes looked on course to end their winless streak when they led Deveronvale 2-1, only to end up losing 3-2.
Highland League results from Saturday: Brechin City 3, Nairn County 0; Brora Rangers 2, Huntly 0; Forres Mechanics 4, Keith 1; Lossiemouth 1, Banks O’ Dee 2; Rothes 2, Deveronvale 3; Strathspey Thistle 2, Wick Academy 3; Turriff United 1, Inverurie Locos 2.
Highland League fixtures – Wednesday, April 9: Formartine United v Nairn County; Huntly v Fraserburgh; Keith v Strathspey Thistle.
Saturday, April 12: Brechin City v Lossiemouth; Brora Rangers v Rothes; Buckie Thistle v Keith; Clachnacuddin v Formartine United; Forres Mechanics v Banks O’ Dee; Fraserburgh v Huntly; Inverurie Locos v Wick Academy; Nairn County v Deveronvale; Strathspey Thistle v Turriff United.
Saturday, April 19 Highland League Cup final: Brora Rangers v Fraserburgh (at Grant Street Park, Inverness).