Huntly 3
Wick Academy 2
League

Match Report

Newspaper extract from John Briskham.

A poor first half saw Academy down by 3-0 going into the break. A double from Ashley Ballam and a goal from Glenn Murison just before the half time whistle meant an up-hill battle if we were to take anything from the match.

The second half was much better with Craig Gunn and Sam Mackay pulling us back into the game, but the first half damage proved too much to over-turn.

Huntly’s opening goal came in the 14th minute. A free kick from the right was swung high into the box. Sean McCarthy rose to collect it but dropped the ball. It fell to the feet of Ashley Ballam and from 6 yards out he smashed it home into an empty net.

Declan Milne had an attempt cleared by the feet of McCarthy as Huntly looked to double their advantage.

Academy drew level on 34 minutes. Craig Gunn snapped up a short back-pass from Alexander Thoirs and he fired home from a tight angle past keeper John Farquhar, his 10th goal in 13 appearances for this season.

Thoirs almost redeemed himself when he did well to cut inside but held his head in his hands as his curling shot went just wide of McCarthy’s left hand post.

Huntly went back in front 6 minutes later. A corner from the right found Ballam unmarked in the middle of the box and he rose high to power home a header.

Seconds before the half time whistle Glen Murson had time outside the box to control the ball and he shot home low past McCarthy’s diving right hand.

Half Time – Huntly 3 – Wick Academy 1

Academy pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute. Richard Macadie played the ball over the top of the Huntly back line for Sam Mackay to run onto. He controlled it with a delicate dink over the top of the out-rushing keeper Farquhar and turned the ball into the empty net.

Academy pushed for the equaliser and Craig Gunn had the ball in the net but it was ruled off-side.

Manson came close from a bounced ball but Farquhar tipped his attempt over the cross-bar.

Full Time – Huntly 3 – Wick Academy 2