| 22nd July 2006 – Friendly | Harmsworth Park Wick |
 Wick Academy |
1 (Shane Sutherland 32) |
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Team: Daniel Bell (Kevin McGee 85), Stuart Sinclair (Gary Weir back on 90), Gary Manson, David Mowat, Alex Lamb, Craig Shearer, Graeme Reid (Kevin Swanson 83), David Cowie, John Farquhar, Gary Weir (Bryan McKiddie 70), Shane Sutherland (Martin Bain 56). Subs: Martin Bain, Kevin Swanson, Bryan McKiddie, Kevin McGee (GK) |
|
 Orkney |
0 |
|
Team: David Leonard, Duncan Gray (John Tait 83) , Eric Bews, Kevin Groundwater, Robert Balfour, Brian Garson (Craig Gillion 70), George Keldie (Ross Sutherland 79), Adam Stranger, David Campbell (Neil MacDonald 46), Sephen Poke (John Deerness 45, Deerness for Duncan Gray back on 90), Wayne Monkman. Subs: Craig Gillion, Neil MacDonald, Ross Sutherland, John Deerness, John Tait. |
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| Referee | Willie Sinclair |
| Bookings | None |
| Reporters Man of the match | Alex Lamb |
Academy had the first scoring chance of the game within 8 minutes. Stuart Sinclair played a good ball into the box which Shane Sutherland took first time, but he turned his shot wide of the Orkney keeper Leonards left hand post.
Then in 13 minutes with Academy continuing to press the Orkney defence Gary Weir played a pass through to Craig Shearer on the edge of the box. Craig attempted a curling shot into the right hand corner of the net, but Leonard managed to get across the face of his goal quickly enough to make the save.
Orkneys first real attempt came in the 17th minute when Adam Stranger managed to out-jump the Academy defence and got his head to a good crossed ball. His header however went just over the top of Bells cross-bar.
Academy continued to try to break down a tough Orkney defence and in 20 minutes David Cowie hit a powerful cross ball into the heart of the Orkney box which Gary Weir just failed to connect with from only about 5 yards out.
Academy eventually broke the dead-lock in the 32nd minute. A bit of a mix-up in the Orkney defence saw keeper Leonard picking up a pass-back, and a free-kick inside the box was awarded by referee Sinclair. Gary Weir laid the free kick to the side and Gary Manson stuck a good shot that Leonard parried out. The ball fell to Shane Sutherland and he slotted home.
1 – 0
Half time 1 – 0
The second half re-started with good chances for both sides. Within a minute Davie Cowie managed to beat the off-side trap and got one-on-one with keeper Leonard, but Leonard managed to save Davies shot low down with his feet.
Orkney went straight back up the park and John Deerness, who came on as a sub at half time, had a good shot that Bell managed to save low down at his Right hand post.
That was the start of a good 10 minute spell for Orkney, who came even closer in the 52nd minute to levelling the score. Brian Garson fired in a dangerous cross ball which another half-time substitute Neil MacDonald fired against the post. Bell collected the ball as it span back out and across his line.
Orkney continued to press and in the 61st minute Deerness flicked the ball over the head of keeper Bell, but fortunately David Mowat was on hand to make a goal-line clearance.
In 76 minutes John Farquhar, who was showing good turn of pace up the wing, played in Academy substitute Martin Bain, but unfortunately Martin’s shot was too close to keeper Leonard who made a comfortable save.
3 minutes later young substitute Bryan McKiddie had a good run up the right wing and he crossed the ball in for Graeme Reid to take it on the volly for a great attempt at goal, but keeper Leonard made a great diving save.
The game fizzled out with a further series of substitutions, and the unusual occurrence of both teams putting players back on that had already been substituted. As it was a friendly both managers agreed that this could take place, so back on came Sinclair for Orkney and Weir for Academy for the last few minutes of the game.
Full time 1 – 0
So another good work-out for Academy, and another opportunity for Peter to give a few of the younger members of the squad a run-out. This sort of game is exactly what Academy need as part of their pre-season build-up and they move on now with their last planned friendly away to Ballintore on Tuesday night the 25th.
