A raid from MacKenzie down the Academy left brought a couple of corners but no tangible reward. Then in the 29th minute Weir was through on goal and keeper Neil Hastie did well to block his 8 yard shot. Weir seized on the rebound and manoeuvred to have another left foot effort but by then four red shirted defenders were on the line and Weir could not force the ball past them.
Academy enjoyed a creative spell and twice Hastie had to dive full length to stop 20 yard shots from Macadie.
A quick counter raid up the Clach right saw a couple of efforts blocked near the penalty spot before MacMillan stretched high to hold a header from Chris Ross.
Just before the break Academy came oh! so close to a first goal. Macadie's long corner from the left was missed by Hastie and reached Ross just beyond the back post. It was too tight an angle and his drive flew past the face of the goal.
From the restart Academy kept up the pressure but without testing Hastie until breaking the deadlock after 52 minutes. The Clach keeper could not hold a 40 yard free kick from the right from Macadie and Shearer reacted quickly to drill the loose ball into the net from 6 yards.
Near the hour mark MacCuish and Chris Ross both went close for Clach and then MacLeod headed a cross from Morrison behind for a corner. David Watson crossed from the Clach right to Chris Ross whose volley from 12 yards was well saved by MacMillan diving to his left. The equaliser was not long delayed. Chris Ross ran down the inside right channel and fired the ball low past MacMillan's left hand into the corner of the net.
Wick rallied and a Macadie free kick led to a scramble in the area.
A quick clearance down the park gave Morrison a chance to close in on goal. The big striker wriggled his way to the 6 yard line but MacMillan was able to snatch the ball.
At the top end Weir twisted and turned to shake off three defenders and fired a left foot shot. Hastie dived to his left to turn it round the post. The corner led to more half chances ending when Weir chased a loose ball to the goal line on the left and turned it inside to Martin Gunn who shot wide.
The visitors forced play to the bottom end and MacLeod did well to win a heading duel with Davie Ross at the back post when the ball came over from a free kick on the left.
Weir took a return pass from Stevie Cunningham and one on one with the keeper had a great chance to win the match for Academy only to shoot wide.
A 40 yard free kick from Steven MacDonald was deflected for a corner on the right from which Watson's cross was well caught by MacMillan high at the back post.
A brief feud between Gunn and MacCuish ended with a free kick for Wick and a booking for both players. The 35 yard free kick from Stewart Ross drifted wide and Academy's last chance of three points went with it.
The Inverness team retain their four point advantage over their Wick rivals in that all too familiar area just below mid table.
Sponsors Man of the match Bryan McKiddie
Pictured receiving his award from Thomas Sutherland on behalf of match sponsor Caithness Stone Industries
