In the 16th minute Robert MacGillivary fired a 35 yard free kick only inches past Don MacMillan's left hand post.
After 23 minutes MacKenzie was unlucky when he ran into the penalty area on the left and took the ball past keeper Richard Munro only for it to cross the line just as he cut it back into the goal mouth. Five minutes later from a very tight angle he fired the ball only inches past the base of the back post.
Mark Gillespie was booked for a foul but the long free kick from Stewart Ross was quickly cleared out to the Fort right to Mulligan who again sent it high across goal where Sinclair, among a group of yellow shirts, did well to head it away.
Academy pushed forward during the last ten minutes of the first half but Mark Gillespie kicked the ball away from Cunningham and out for a corner from which Munro comfortably held a looping header from Weir.
Mulligan also created a few more half chances for the home team but Macintosh and Kevin Ferguson both missed the target and then MacMillan scrambled to his left to smother a 20 yard drive from Michael Ellis.
Academy had enjoyed 70% of possession and territorial advantage without seriously testing Munro and Fort William will have been more satisfied with the blank score sheet and started the second half with a spell of determined attacking.
When Shearer fouled Ellis 25 yards in front of the Wick goal, MacGillivary's effort from the free kick was well held by MacMillan. At the other end Gary Farquhar chipped a 35 yard free kick to Weir who chested it down but volleyed wide.
In the 56th minute Cunningham ran through the home defence but Munro came off his line and blocked the shot with his legs.
Fort William were getting the ball nearer and nearer to the Wick goal but Mulligan and MacGillivary both shot wide. Shearer was penalised for forcing Jonathan Hewitt to run wide when the Fort William substitute tried to cut into the box from the right. Shearer made amends by heading the ball away as the free kick came in.
The introduction of Sean Ellis seemed to give Fort William a further injection of enthusiasm and in the 70th minute he made a great run until tripped by Shearer 20 yards in front of goal. MacMillan carefully lined up a wall of four defenders but had to dive to his left to grab Ellis's well flighted free kick. Fort William went in front from another free kick two minutes later. Macintosh went over Farquhar's foot as he ran in from the left near the front corner of the area. MacGillivary's drive skidded off the greasy turf and although MacMillan, diving to his right, reached it with both hands the ball spun into the bottom corner of the net.
Academy tried to fight back and Weir made a purposeful run to slip the ball ahead of Shearer but Munro dashed from his line to snatch it. A Cowie header was kicked off the line.
After Shaun Sinclair welcomed Fort's third substitute Stevie Pearson with a wild tackle and was booked, Sean Ellis nearly made it 2-0 shooting only inches wide.
Bottom of the league if the score stayed as it was, Academy were saved by a piece of double Shearer magic. From way out on the left skipper for the day Craig lobbed the ball into goal mouth where young brother Greg jumped on the six yard line to head powerfully past Munro's right hand.
Relief might have turned to real delight if either Craig Shearer or Weir had snatched a winner late on.
Academy should have had the game sewn up in the first 20 minutes and Fort William just about deserved a point for their spirited second half performance. Do not be surprised if they win three or four games at Claggan Park this season.
