Wick Academy ready for Strathspey battle after Scottish Cup exit
Manager Gary Manson is expecting a "battle" when Wick Academy take on Strathspey Thistle in the Highland League on Saturday, with the Scorries looking to move on from last weekend's Scottish Cup first-round exit.
The Strathy Jags are bottom of the table, having failed to pick up any points so far this season, but they have shown signs of improvement and Seafield Park has sometimes been a tricky venue for Academy in the past.
It is the first of three league fixtures in an eight-day spell for Academy. They are at home to Forres Mechanics in midweek and away to Lossiemouth on October 7.
The Scorries reached the third round of the Scottish Cup last season but their hopes of another run were dashed as Jeanfield Swifts, from the East of Scotland League Premier Division, ran out 3-1 winners at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
“Any defeat is frustrating but when it's in a cup game it is doubly frustrating," Manson said. "It takes a couple of days to get over it but training always helps.
“We're looking forward to three games coming up in the next week, Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday. Let's try and get as many points on the board as we can.
“I think the threat of relegation now makes teams sit up and take a bit more notice and try to improve. Strathspey have done that – in the last year or so they have definitely improved.
“It's always tricky down there. It's a tight pitch, it's a fiery pitch, it's never straightforward, so we are fully expecting a tough game.
"It'll be a battle, two teams low on confidence, on a poor run of form. It'll maybe come down to a moment of magic or a mistake.
“We'll try to put the disappointment from Saturday out of our minds and focus on the league and these three big games coming up. We'll try to start by putting three points on the board on Saturday.”
Some encouraging news for Academy this week is that three players who have been sidelined by injury for a while – Marc Macgregor, Mark Macadie and Brandon Sinclair – have returned to training.
Manson said: “Normally we never have our troubles to seek injury-wise, so it'll be good to have them back in the squad and back in the swing of things.
“They're all still a wee bit away from making a match-day squad, but just to have them back doing some light running is good."
A last-minute goal by Ryan Ferguson gave Brechin City a 1-0 win against Banks O' Dee in wet and windy conditions at Spain Park on Wednesday night, while Keith drew 2-2 with Fraserburgh at Kynoch Park.
In the other midweek match, Caley Thistle progressed to the semi-finals of the North of Scotland Cup by beating Rothes 1-0.
Results – Scottish Cup first round (ties involving Highland League clubs): Banks O' Dee 6, Dalbeattie Star 0; Brechin City 4, Rothes 0; Brora Rangers 5, Berwick Rangers 1; Broxburn Athletic 2, Nairn County 1; Caledonian Braves 1, Fraserburgh 2; Clachnacuddin 1, Inverurie Locos 0; Culter 3, Deveronvale 4; East Stirlingshire 0, Huntly 1; Formartine United 3, Threave Rovers 2; Gala Fairydean Rovers 8, Strathspey Thistle 2; Golspie Sutherland 1, Forres Mechanics 1 (Forres won 7-6 on penalties); Keith 2, Luncarty 5; Lossiemouth 0, Beith Juniors 4; Tayport 0, Buckie Thistle 4; Turriff United 2, Sauchie Juniors 1; Wick Academy 1, Jeanfield Swifts 3.
Highland League: Banks O' Dee 0, Brechin City 1; Keith 2, Fraserburgh 2. North of Scotland Cup quarter-final: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1, Rothes 0.
Fixtures for Saturday, September 30 – Highland League Cup semi-finals: Brechin City v Fraserburgh; Brora Rangers v Keith. Highland League: Buckie Thistle v Nairn County; Formartine United v Turriff United; Huntly v Clachnacuddin; Inverurie Locos v Rothes; Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy.
