Formartine Utd 3
Wick Academy 3
League

Match Report

The big games just keep coming for Academy with yet another game which will influence who wins this season's league title. Lukasz Geruzel is still out injured but other than that Barry Wilson has a full squad at his disposal, with Ross Allan returning from suspension. Neil McVitie is the only absentee for the home side.

Academy beat Formartine 2-0 in this fixture last season, so a repeat result today would do nicely.

Academy have started brightly and win a corner within 2 minutes. Richard Macadie swung it in and the Formartine defence fail to clear properly. The balls fell for Stevie Cunningham who knocked it back to Macadie and he had a 20 yard drive that went straight to keeper Andy Shearer.

Academy take the lead after 4 minutes. A long ball is picked up by Macadie and he lofted It over the Formartine defence. Davie Allan ran onto the ball, rounder keeper Shearer and from 12 yards out stroked it home.

0 - 1

That goal racks up number 100 for Academy this season, 81 in the league and 19 in all cup competitions.

From the kick-off Formartine create a chance. The ball was played into the path of Michael Ewen but James More was quick off his mark to smother the ball and the danger was cleared.

In the 8th minute Academy double their lead. The ball was worked wide to Macadie who slid in Allan. He used his pace to reach the ball, out-muscled his marker and slotted home.

0 - 2

4 minutes later and Allan notched up his hat-trick. Macadie sent Michael Steven on his way up the flank on the over-lap. Steven got the better for the full-back, cut the ball back to Allan and he swept the ball home with a first time strike.

0 - 3

Formartine come close to pulling a goal back. They win a corner on the left that Ross Campbell rose highest for and he got a powerful header on the ball put put it just over the target.

On the half hour Academy apply some more pressure to the Formartine goal. Good link play saw Macadie set Allan off up the wing. Allan swung the ball over to Sam Mackay on the left who cut in and got a shot on target that Shearer saved pushing the ball out for a corner. Macadie fired the corner into the Formartine box and Gary Weir got in a good header which was defected for another corner. This one was cleared by Formartine who broke up-field with Michael Ewen passing the ball into the feet of Stuart Soane but James More was quick off his mark and saved with his feet.

It's an action-packed game with both sides continuing to make chances. 5 minutes from half-time Gary Manson broke up the left, slid in Allan who laid it to Cunningham, he played it back to Manson who swung a cross into the back post for Weir who had a half-volley that went just past the post.

Formartine broke from the by-kick and a Callum Bagshaw cross into the Academy box was missed by everyone before falling to Stuart Soane nut he put his volley over the cross-bar.

It was then Academy's turn to have another crack when Macadie sent Allan on his way up the right flank. He played the ball to Weir and keeper Shearer saved his shot with his feet.

Michael Ewen then had a header from a Stuart Smith cross that went straight to More from 16 yards out, and then right on the stroke of half-time they pulled a goal back. Stuart Soane had a shot saved that fell nicely for Callum Bagshaw and he smashed the ball in to give the home side some hope that they can still pull something back.

1 - 3

Half Time - Formartine United 1 - Wick Academy 3

Formartine start the second half in determined looking mood and in the 58th minute forced a corner on the left which Academy failed to properly clear. Soane headed it back into the mix and Hamish Munro hit a half-volley that went just past the outside of the More's left hand post.

A minute later the home side are right back in the game. A high ball was played into the Academy area which Grant Steven got a foot on and the ball bounced up into the box. More was unsure if he was going to come to catch it, and Michael Ewen nipped in and slotted home into an empty net.

2 - 3

On 65 minutes Academy win a free kick on the left that is fired to the back post by Sam Mackay. Gary Weir drifted in un-marked but he couldn't direct his header on target.

2 minutes later the home side square the scores. A cross from the left from Stuart Smith is headed back down into the area by Michael Ewen into the path of Michael Bagshaw. Bagshaw mis-hit his shot but got enough on the ball to send it over the line.

3 - 3

Ross Campbell and Gary Weir pick up bookings, Campbell for a late tackle through the back of Sam Mackay, and Weir for descent.

Academy make a change with Pickles coming on for Mackay.

The Scorries have another chance. Weir won a high ball and laid it to Allan who in turn teed up Macadie who had a 23 yard first time drive that went just over the cross-bar.

Last 5 minutes of the game and the home side are hunting for the winner. Hamish Munro pumped in a corner from the right but Craig McKeown headed it wide.

Formartine then had a shout for a penalty waved away by Morag Pirie. A high ball into the Academy box was won well by Daniel Park and fired wide under pressure with the Formartine players claiming he had been pulled down.

2 minutes into stoppage time and Academy have a chance to win the game. They force a corner which is taken short by Macadie to Cunningham. Cunningham played it back to Macadie who set himself but fired his attempt just over the cross-bar.

The game ends 3-3 with what has been a great come-back for the home side. There are many twists and turns yet to come in this season's title race and Academy now welcome league leaders Cove Rangers to Harmsworth Park next Saturday. The beat Forres 2-0 today.

Full Time - Formartine United 3 - Wick Academy 3

Match report written by Luke Bunch