Brora Rangers 2
Wick Academy 3
League

Match Report

A strong Academy side took to Dudgeon Park tonight on a glorious evening determined to avenge for the home defeat inflicted by Brora back in January when the Sutherland side went away from Harmsworth Park with all 3 points following a 3-2 win.

Academy opened the scoring within 5 minutes. Craig Shearer showed his battling qualities in mid-field winning the ball and passing to Weir who picked his spot and hammered home with a cool finish.

0 - 1

Academy managed to keep Brora at bay for the first half-hour limiting them to a few long range efforts arrowed in on target, but nothing that really threatened More's goal.

On 30 minutes referee Fraser awarded the Scorries a penalty kick after a hand-ball in the box from a free-kick. Macadie stepped up to take the penalty which he fired low to Bell's left, but the Brora keeper dived and made a good stop.

Academy doubled their advantage after their best spell of passing football. The ball was played across the park for David Allan who controlled it with a cushioned header before beating Bell with a lovely controlled right foot shot.

0 - 2

Brora got themselves right back into the game 4 minutes before the half-time break. Ross Grant swung a corner into the box and Brora's top goal scorer this season Scott McKain rose highest and headed home off the under-side of the cross-bar and the ball nestled in the bottom left hand corner of the net.

1 - 2

John Mackay had a great long range effort tipped away for a corner by More and the sides left the park with the game all to play for in the second half.

Half time 1 - 2

Brora had a chance to level the scores 10 minutes into the second half when they were awarded the second penalty of the game after Ross Grant was fouled inside the Academy box, but Grant ballooned his spot-kick effort over the cross-bar.

Academy restored their 2 goal advantage in the 69th minute. Richard Macadie took a free kick wide on the left hand side of the park fully 35 yards from goal. He floated it into the box and it evaded everyone and landed up in the back of the net. The goal sees Macadie now equalling Martin Gunn's league goal scoring tally with both players now on the score sheet a total of 64 times.

1 - 3

It's great attacking stuff now as Bell makes a great save to keep the Scorries from increasing their lead, and Academy also have 3 one-one-ones with the Brora keeper but the score remains at 1-3.

With 5 minutes of regulation time left to play Brora get right back into the game. A long ball is punted towards the Academy goal. More came out to clear but substitute Liam Baxter chased down the ball. More's clearance hammered off Baxter and he followed in to slot home into an empty net.

2 - 3

A tense and frantic final few minutes unfolded with Brora throwing everything at Academy but they couldn't muster an equaliser and Academy come backup the A9 with all 3 points.

Full Time 2 - 3

Match report written by Alastair Ross