Match Report – Wick Academy Versus Heriot-Watt University Fc
The East of Scotland Premiership side were the visitors to the Harmsworth Park in what was Wick’s final warm up match before entertaining Cove Rangers in their opening match of the Highland League season next Saturday.
Wick started the match playing up the famous Harmsworth slope, and were quickly into their stride and It came as no surprise when they went in front inside 2 minutes. Nigel MacKenzie played a neat 1-2 with Gary Farquhar on the corner of the Heriot 18 yard box out on the left, McKenzie controlled Farquhar’s return pass before drilling the ball across goal for defender Graeme Reid to fire home from 3 yards.
Wick 1 v 0 Heriot Watt Uni. Fc
From the restart Wick regained possession of the ball and Cowie sent Manson racing into the Heriot box with a defence splitting pass, Manson’s drive from 14yds was brilliantly charged down by Flockhart in the Heriot goal
allowing the defence to clear the ball to safety. Heriots first attempt on goal came in 7mins when Wells fired in a shot from 18yds which MacMillan held comfortably. Within minutes Heriot’s created another goal scoring opportunity when the East of Scotland Premier league sides top goal scorer Stoddart controlled Ross Campbell’s through ball 18yds out before firing in a shot which was hurtling towards the top left-hand corner of the Wick goal only for McMillan to deny the young Northern Irish lad with a tremendous full length save to palm the ball away.
Heriots kept driving forward and Campbell was to have his sides next attempt on goal, when he drove forward unchallenged towards the Wick box and unleashed a tremendous 20yd shot only to find McMillan in inspired form
tipping Campbell’s rising shot over the bar for Heriot’s first corner of the match. From the resultant corner Wick cleared their lines and immediately went into an attack which was to put the home side 2 nil up in 13mins.
Cowie picked up the defensive clearance and raced up the right side of the Harmsworth slope before lofting the ball over the Heriots defence to the forward running Manson, Heriot’s Flockhart raced of his line to intercept
the ball, however Manson lobbed the big keeper before firing the ball into the empty net from 12 yds much to the delight of the Wick support.
Wick 2 v 0 Heriot Watt Uni. Fc
Heriots hauled themselves back into the match in 27mins when their promising young forward Stoddart rose unchallenged to head Mark Wells’s perfectly flighted cross from the left powerfully towards McMillan’s goal
from 10yds which McMillan was helpless to do anything about as the ball soared into his top left-hand corner of goal.
Wick 2 v 1 Heriot Watt Uni. Fc
By now Heriots were dictating play and had Wick on the back foot creating several good goal scoring opportunities, however poor finishing and stout defending from Wick prevented Heriots from gaining the equaliser their open attacking play deserved.
Half Time:
Wick 2 v 1 Heriot Watt Uni. Fc
Into the second half and with Wick playing down the Harmsworth slope they went immediately into attack when Manson played a neat one-two with Farquhar inside Heriots 18yd box before firing the ball goalwards from 14yds only for Flockhart in the Heriot goal to dive low down to his right to save at the post. Both sides made changes to their line ups midway through the second half which seemed to have unsettled the Wick team more as Heriots dictated play, Gilbert Paterson played a long ball over the Wick defence for Stoddart to run onto, McMillan raced off his line in an attempt to clear however the young striker went down under a hefty challenge from McMillan with the Heriot-Watt players and bench claiming a penalty which would have been justified, however referee Johnson waved away their claims much to the annoyance and disbelieve of the Heriot’s Manager Billy Henderson which
earned him a stern warning for his protests from ref Johnston. In 70mins Ross Campbell son of "Partick Thistle Manager Dick" worked space for himself 20yds from the Wick goal before unleashing a rising drive which flew high over McMillan’s bar. Against the run of play Wick increased their lead in 83mins when Wick’ MacGregor played the ball down the right to MacKenzie who looked up to see Heriots young second half replacement keeper Barr well of his line and from fully 35yds out Mackenzie fired the ball up and over the stranded keeper and into the Heriot net for a magnificent goal, which the Wick fans applauded.
Wick 3 v 1 Heriot-Watt Uni. Fc
That seemed to have knocked the stuffing out of the Heriots team, with Wick taking the game to their East of Scotland visitors for the remainder of the match.On hearing the final whistle both teams left the park to the applause from the Wick support.
Full Time:
Wick Academy 3 v 1 Heriot-Watt University Fc
Wick:
MacMillan,MacLeod,Lamb,McCallum,G.Reid (MacGregor 45),Cowie,Gunn(S.MacKay-Steven76),Shearer,MacKenzie(Sutherland 85),Farquhar(S.Reid 59),Manson.
Subs Not Used: Swanson,Sinclair and More.
Heriots:
Flochart(Barr59),Green,Samuel,Steele,Sinclair,Campbell,Bissett(Cassidy59),Paterson,Stoddart,Letson,Wells(Munro 70)
Subs Not Used: Mowat,Ferrie and Brown
Wick Manager Budge was looking for a good workout for his players ahead of their forthcoming Highland League match opener against Cove Rangers on the 6th August at the Harmsworth Park and Heriots didn’t let anyone down.
They made the Wick team work very hard for their victory and dictated the match for long spells in the second half with good performances from Stoddart, Wells, Campbell,Bissett and Paterson. Wick on the day were well organised and had good performances throughout the team, with midfield and defence looking assured in their play however the
striking position looks to be a problem area once again, with Manager Budge looking to rectify the situation before next Saturdays opener against Cove.
Budge commented after the match; "That it was a good competitive workout with Heriots having some clever loons in their team, they dictated play more than us, however our goals were well worked with MacKenzie’s well executed
goal the pick of the bunch which he fully deserved for his hard working display". However Budge went on to say "that the Cove game was coming a wee bit soon for his team and was hoping to get another friendly in midweek to bring them on".
Reporter:
Alan Farquhar
