| 19th May 2007 – League | Harmsworth Park, Wick |
 Wick Academy FC
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5 (Gary Weir 10, 14, 61, Shane Sutherland 52, Martin Gunn 71) |
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Team: James More(Graeme Williamson 85), Shaun Sinclair, Gary Manson, Stewart Ross, David Mowat, Craig Shearer, Martin Gunn, Gary Farquhar(Bryan McKiddie 67), Gary Weir, Shane Sutherland(Murray Coghill 78), David Cowie. Subs: Bryan McKiddie, Murray Coghill, Scott MacKenzie, Alan Sinclair, Graeme Williamson(GK). |
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 Fort William
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0 |
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Team: Robert Lewandowski, Graeme Bamber, Andy Martin, George Russell, Donald Horsburgh, Angus Lawrie, Jonathon Hewitt(Bradley Flannigan 85), Darren Quigg, Michael Ellis, Iain Hogg(Antonio Levartek 78), Brent Mitchell(Sean Ellis 57). Subs: Bradley Flannigan, Antonio Levartek, Sean Ellis. |
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| Referee: | Jason Hasson |
| Bookings: | None. |
| Sponsor man of the match |
Gray Weir |
Academy really controlled the game from the off, and their first chance came in 4 minutes when young striker Shane Sutherland had a curling left foot attempt from 25 yards out that just went wide of Fort keeper Lewanadowski’s right hand post.
The first goal came with 10 minutes on the clock. Gary Farquhar played a ball through the middle of the Fort defence which took a deflection and landed perfectly for Weir whose left foot shot beat the keeper from 16 yards out.
1 – 0
Academy kept on the attack and shortly afterwards forced a corner. David Cowie swung it in and Craig Shearer stormed in at the back post but his headed was just too high.
2 – 0
It took 22 minutes for Fort to mount any real threat on the Academy goal. Graham Bamber made good ground up the wing but Darren Quigg headed his cross over the top of More's cross-bar.
2 minutes later and Academy had a chance to extend their lead. Shane Sutherland played a neat ball over the top of the Fort defence to David Cowie. Cowie squared the ball to Martin Gunn but he blasted high over the top from 8 yards out.
The chances kept coming for Academy and in 27 minutes Cowie beat the off-side trap and ran in on goal. Keeper Lewandowski came 30 yards out of his goal to meet him and Cowie unselfishly rolled the ball to Weir who stuck it home, but he was flagged off-side.
Manson then forced a good save from Lewandowski as he got finger-tops to his shot to turn it over the top. Almost immediately after that Weir played Gunn through the Fort defence but Gunn’s right foot shot whistled just past the post.
2 minutes later and Gunn returned the favour for Weir, sending him through on goal, but Weir didn’t catch his shot as cleanly as he would have liked and his shot was collected by Lewandowski.
Fort’s only other attempt on goal in the first half came in the 39th minute when Donald Horsburgh had a 20 yard shot that went wide of More’s left post.
Half Time 2 – 0
Academy started the second half where they left off in the first, and forced a corner within 2 minutes of the re-start. Cowie swung it in and Sutherland got a clean header on it, but unfortunately couldn’t keep it down and it went over the cross-bar.
It wasn’t long however before Academy extended their lead. Sinclair sent Cowie on another charge up the wing and he crossed for Shane Sutherland who slotted home from 8 yards out.
3 – 0
Just after the hour mark Weir sent Gary Manson in on goal, but his shot was turned round the post by Lewandowski for a corner.
A minute later and Manson was involved again, crossing for Cowie. Cowie flicked the ball to Weir, who controlled it and shot just over the top of the goalie for his hat trick.
4 – 0
The best goal of the game was to follow in the 71st minute. Weir this time turning provider as his cross was collected by Martin Gunn, and Gunn unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard pile-driver to put the Academy nap.
5 – 0
Academy needed to win by 7 clear goals to over-take Rothes for 10th place, and with 10 minutes left there was a sniff in the air that this was just about possible.
Stewart Ross was the next to have an attempt on goal, when Manson whipped in a cross to the back post, but Ross put his header just wide of goal.
With a minute of normal time remaining Martin Gunn had a great chance to send the game into a thriller of a finish when he shot at goal from 8 yards out, but Lewandowski made the save.
Full Time 5 – 0
No just not enough to over-take Rothes for 10th spot, where they stay by virtue of goal difference, but Academy break the 30 point mark and finish with their 3rd best season since joining the league in 199495.
Sponsors Man of the match Gary Weir
Seen here receiving his award from Walter Mowat, Seaview Hotel
