We'll need to be an awful lot better than that, admits Wick boss after Brora hit seven
Manager Gary Manson will be looking for a massive improvement from Wick Academy when they take on Forres Mechanics this weekend after Wednesday night's derby drubbing at the hands of Brora Rangers.
The Cattachs ran out 7-1 winners at Harmsworth Park as Academy slipped to fourth from bottom in the Highland League.
It is the first time the Scorries have conceded seven against Brora in a league match.
"They were just better, it's as simple as that – better on the ball, better off the ball," Manson said.
"They were clinical when they got their chances and that's what you get when you play the top teams. You can't just let them walk through you at will, and get as many touches in our box as they did before they are closed down – they'll just punish you.
"Brora are a good side and you can't afford to give them those opportunities. I think we saw the best of them here and we struggled to contain them."
Academy now face Forres on Saturday in the third of four successive home fixtures. The Can-Cans won 4-2 when the teams met at Mosset Park in October and they ended a run of five defeats with a 0-0 stalemate at home to Clachnacuddin in midweek.
Manson said: "Obviously the next game is always a chance to try and rectify it but we'll need to be an awful lot better than that."
Academy made four changes from the side that lost 2-1 at home to Nairn County, with Jack Halliday, Jack Henry, Sean Munro and Joe Anderson returning to the starting line-up.
After an even start, Brora made the breakthrough after 20 minutes when they cut through the Wick defence and Jordan MacRae found himself in plenty of space. He drilled the ball low to the right of keeper Graeme Williamson.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Ali Sutherland played the ball across the face of goal from the left and Max Ewan arrived at the back post to bundle it in.
Brora's third came from a spot-kick on 57 minutes after Ross Gunn was adjudged to have been tripped as he ran into the box. Dale Gillespie stepped up and sent Williamson the wrong way.
Andy Macrae came off the bench and quickly made an impact, scoring with an angled shot that went in off the far post on 61 minutes.
Three minutes later Brora struck again. Sutherland's first attempt was blocked but he knocked in the rebound.
Marc Macgregor pulled one back for Academy after 67 minutes when he burst through the centre, ahead of a posse of backtracking defenders, and dispatched a rising shot beyond keeper Logan Ross.
Substitute Tony Dingwall then got in on the act with a double. He grabbed Brora's sixth with a simple finish after 72 minutes and completed the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time.
Macgregor looked to be in some discomfort as he was substituted in the closing stages.
Manson said: "It was just precautionary. He felt his hamstring tightening up so we took him off. There was no point in keeping him on."
Brechin City are feeling the pressure after suffering their first Highland League defeat in more than a year, going down 2-0 to Formartine United on Wednesday night.
Paul Campbell put Formartine ahead before Julian Wade's late strike sealed the points.
Brechin still trail leaders Buckie Thistle by two points with just one game in hand and have some tricky fixtures to come.
Rothes were the highest-scoring team of the night as they smashed in nine without reply against hapless Strathspey Thistle.
Aidan Wilson netted five times in the opening 63 minutes, including a first-half hat-trick.
Banks O' Dee jumped out of the bottom two for the first time since they were deducted 24 points with a 2-1 comeback win at Lossiemouth.
Keith dropped to second bottom after their 1-0 loss at Huntly.
Highland League results: Formartine United 2, Brechin City 0; Forres Mechanics 0, Clachnacuddin 0; Huntly 1, Keith 0; Lossiemouth 1, Banks O' Dee 2; Rothes 9, Strathspey Thistle 0; Wick Academy 1, Brora Rangers 7.
Fixtures for Saturday, February 25: Brora Rangers v Strathspey Thistle; Buckie Thistle v Clachnacuddin; Deveronvale v Banks O' Dee; Formartine United v Rothes; Fraserburgh v Turriff United; Huntly v Brechin City; Inverurie Locos v Nairn County; Keith v Lossiemouth; Wick Academy v Forres Mechanics.
