Mark Nichol was too hot to handle for the Rothes defence today, helping himself to all 4 of Academys goals, and setting a club record becoming the first Academy player to score 4 goals in a league game.
The first goal of the game came in the 6th minute. Paul McCallum sent a high looping ball over the top of the Rothes defence. Nichol picked it up on the edge of the box and drilled it home with a low driven shot past the Rothes keeper Steven Thomsons right hand.
1 – 0
Academy then doubled their lead in the 16th minute. They won a free-kick about 35 yards from the Rothes goal. Gary Farquhar floated it into the box and referee Hamill spotted a Kerr Gibson push on Mark Nichol and blew for a penalty kick. Gary Farquhar took the spot kick, but keeper Thomson saved it low down to his right hand.
Rothes then levelled the game in the 35th minute. Brian Thomson floated a free-kick into the Academy box and the Rothes number 6 Allan Stephen scored with a diving header.
1 – 1
Academy responded straight away from the re-start. Craig Shearer sent a pass through the middle of the Rothes defence and Mark Nichol was on hand to pick it up, beat two defenders and fire home past a helpless Steven Thomson.
2 – 1
Some great link-up play in the 37th Minute saw Mark claim his hat-trick. Andrew Macleod had a neat inter-change with Nigel Mackenzie, who crossed for Mark to score on the half volley with a great strike.
3 – 1
Academy had 2 further chances to put the game out of sight before half time. Both chances fell to David Cowie. His first came from a Mackenzie cross which he hooked high over the bar. The second was a great strike from about 30 yards out which chipped off the top of the Rothes cross-bar with the keeper well beaten.
Half time 3 – 1
Within 2 minutes of the second half Mark Nichol scored his 4th. Andrew Macleod drove at the Rothes defence and had a shot that keeper Thomson saved, but it bounced back out and Nigel Mackenzie squared it back across the face of goal where Mark slotted home from close range.
4 – 1
Rothes had a good chance to pull something back in the 57th minute. George Massie had a 20 yard crack at goal and Don got down really well to turn it round his right hand post for a corner kick.
Academy really then dominated the rest of the second half playing some good possession football, and frustrated the Rothes players into a series of some hard tackles that broke the game up into numerous free-kicks.
Rothes did get the final say in the game when they scored their second goal in the 90th minute, George Massie netting from 12 yards out, but by that stage the game was well beyond them, and Academy ran out comfortable winners.
Final Score 4 – 2
This win puts Academy back into 11th spot in the league, level on 22 points with Rothes and Lossiemouth, but both Lossiemouth and Rothes have games in hand over Academy, so the final fight for league positions 11, 12 & 13 is far from finished.
Academy now play Keith in next weekends Fosters League cup, so this win should be just the confidence boost that they need.
Sponsors Man of the match Mark Nichol
Seen here receiving his award from Sandy Mackenzie, Match sponsor Corrie Electrical Services
Academy Team: MacMillan, McCallum (Coghill 66), Macleod (Sutherland 79), Lamb, Cowie, Henderson, Shearer (Reid 53), Mackenzie, Weir, Farquhar, Nichol.
Subs: Sinclair, Reid, Coghill, Sutherland, More
Bookings: Lamb (73), Reid (77), Weir (77)
