Wick Academy defender sidelined by injury for at least a month
Wick Academy will have to get by without Owen Harrold for at least a month as they look to improve their position in the Highland League before the turn of the year.
Harrold, the supporters’ player of the year last season, missed last weekend’s Highland League Cup first-round defeat at Huntly and manager Gary Manson expects the 28-year-old defender to be sidelined until the middle of December.
“Owen picked up a thigh injury in training during the week,” Manson said. “I would imagine he’ll be four or five weeks yet.
“It’s just one of these things, I’m afraid – it happens from time to time. It was just a muscle injury that he picked up.”
Midfielder Jack Henry and defenders Brandon Sinclair and Matthew Robertson will be available again as the Scorries return to league action at home to Inverurie Locos this weekend.
Academy will be looking to halt a run of three defeats. They were beaten 1-0 at home by Keith last month, then lost 3-0 at Nairn before conceding three late goals in last Saturday’s 5-2 cup exit at Christie Park.
Locos are fourth in the table, while the Scorries are 14th – five points ahead of bottom side Strathspey Thistle.
“It doesn’t matter what competition we’re playing in, we need to start picking up wins,” Manson said.
“The results are going against us at the moment – whether that’s due to a bad performance or bad luck, or a combination of both, it’s something that we need to rectify.
“Saturday is the next chance to put three points on the board and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.
“Inverurie are a good side. They were a good side last year and they started off really poorly for one reason or another, but they showed the quality they had by the time the end of the season came – and this season is no different.
“They’ve got lots of good players and it’ll be a tough test for us, that’s for sure, but we’ll see how we got on.”
The corresponding fixture last season, in November 2023, saw a dramatic 2-1 victory for Academy after Graeme Williamson saved a penalty and Rob McLean headed home the winner in stoppage time.
Results – Highland League Cup, first round: Brechin City 2, Inverurie Locos 1; Buckie Thistle 2, Clachnacuddin 0; Fraserburgh 2, Forres Mechanics 0; Huntly 5, Wick Academy 2; Keith 0, Brora Rangers 5; Lossiemouth 1, Deveronvale 4; Nairn County 0, Banks O’ Dee 6; Rothes 1, Formartine United 8.
Fixtures for Saturday, November 16 – Highland League: Deveronvale v Nairn County; Formartine United v Clachnacuddin; Keith v Buckie Thistle; Lossiemouth v Brechin City; Rothes v Brora Rangers; Turriff United v Strathspey Thistle; Wick Academy v Inverurie Locos (3pm).
