their advantage. Poor defending again by the Wick defence saw Horsburgh get a
flick onto McIntosh and he hammered the ball home giving Williamson no chance.
0 – 2
Academy almost pulled one back in
the 33rd minute. Gunn did well up the right wing and crossed for
Manson in the middle of the box but his flashing header with keeper Knight
beaten skimmed past the outside of the right post.
Forres were awarded a penalty by
referee Baxter in the 37th minute. Slack play by Academy gifted possession
to Forres and as Duguid ran into the box Alan Sinclair took him down from
behind and Baxter point immediately to the spot. Defender Black stepped up to
take the kick and he slotted home to Williamson's left.
0 – 3
In the last action of the half
Academy again passed up a good chance. Gunn broke through the middle of the
Forres defence and ran in one-on-one with keeper Knight, but Knight managed to
get something on the ball to deny the Wick captain.
Half time 0 – 3
Co-managers Hughes and Munro rang
the changes at half-time switching to three at the back, with Weir and Shaun
Sinclair coming on for Stuart Sinclair and MacLeod.
This had an immediate impact as
within six minutes Weir got on the score-card. Ross crossed to the back post and
Weir headed home past an out-stretched Knight.
1 – 3
Three minutes later the
Harmsworth crowd were on their feet again as Gunn controlled a long ball from
Ross over the top of his head, set himself and shot at target from just outside
the box. Knight blocked the ball and it re-bounded back out to Weir who hit it
first-time but Knight again made the block, but it fell nicely for Weir to tuck
home his second in as many minutes. Game on!!
2 – 3
Shearer almost squared the scores
with 50 minutes played. Ross again played the ball over the top of the Forres
defence and Shearer tried to chip Knight who was off his line but the attempt
went just wide of target.
Forres regained their two goal
advantage in the 63rd minute. Slack defending again gave the ball
away from which Forres won a free-kick just outside the Academy penalty area.
Allan took the free-kick and with his right foot he lifted it over the Academy
wall and curled it into the left hand corner of the net.
2 – 4
Forres went nap four minutes
later. They broke through the Academy defence who seemed to stop as Alan Sinclair
went down injured. Referee Baxter waved play-on and Duguid got a shot on target
that Williamson saved but he couldn't hold onto it and Calder was on hand to
snap the ball up and score his second of the game with an easy tap-in.
2 – 5
Captain Gunn scored an absolute
screamer with 10 minutes of play left. He hit an unstoppable thunder-bolt from
30 yards out that almost burst the back of the net, and with time still left
the Harmsworth faithful had a life-line that something could still be salvaged from
the game.
3 – 5
Unfortunately it wasn't to be as
Calder sealed the game with his hat-trick. Slack defending was again the
Academy downfall as they failed to deal with the Forres build-up and eventual
cross into the box. Williamson seemed to get something on the ball as it was
fired on target, but it fell to Calder and he managed to squeeze it between the
young keeper and his left hand post.
3 – 6
Final score 3 – 6
Academy manage to retain their 10th
place in the league, but Brora are now breathing down our necks after their win
against Fort William. Academy must try to tighten up
in defence with an away trip to Lossiemouth next weekend, and a hard game then
to follow at home to Deveronvale on the 29th.
Sponsors Man of the match Neil Whyte
Pictured receiving his award from Donnie Munro on behalf of the match sponsor Bin Ends
