Shaken from any possible complacency Wick surged up the park
and Macadie set up the chance for David Allan to score from 15 yards.
Cunningham, Allan and Macadie carved a way through the
visitors' defence but Weir was unable to finish the move when the ball reached
him 10 yards from goal.
Luke Sawyer raced down the Halkirk right and then cut in
along the goal line. Shearer kept pace with him and made a timely tackle, only
to fall awkwardly and twist his knee.
Academy finished the first period pushing for a killer third
goal. Weir chipped the ball just over the Halkirk bar and Bokas leapt high to
fist away a swerving free kick from Gary Manson.
After the break Halkirk enjoyed their best spell of the
game. Grant Budge made progress up the left flank slipping the ball inside to
Sawyer who helped it on its way towards the penalty spot where Andrew MacLeod
and Alex Lamb managed to scramble it away from Sutherland. Moments later the
speedy Sawyer was again in among the Wick defenders to run on to a deft lob
from Sinclair but taking the ball to the right he fired it past the base of More's
post and into the side net.
Academy took control of the game again and had five corner
kicks in as many minutes. Bokus made several impressive stops doing
particularly well to palm a well struck drive from Macadie round the post. This
spell of Wick supremacy ended when David Allan dragged a shot wide from the
edge of the box.
At the top end a 20 yard free kick looked promising for the
Anglers and dangerous for the Scorries but Sinclair scooped it high over the
bar.
On the hour mark Cunningham made a determined run down the
middle, playing a one two with Macadie out to his left. Bokus dashed smartly
from his line to slide the return pass away before Cunningham could reach it.
After 65 minutes the home fans in the 200 plus crowd enjoyed
the best move of the game from their team. Confident forward passes from Grant
Campbell and Bryan McKiddie and slick passing at the front edge of the box by Allan
and Macadie set up Weir who was unlucky to see his accurate left foot volley
bounce off a lunging Halkirk leg. Within a minute Academy put the game out of
reach of their plucky local rivals when Allan's second goal made the score 3-0.
When the ball fell to him inside the area following MacLeod's free kick from
the halfway line, the young striker drove it low past Bokus's left hand into
the corner of the net.
Briefly Academy toyed with the Halkirk defence. A Weir
header bounced off Sinclair for a corner and when a string of passes left
Macadie in the clear barely six yards from goal his neat side footed effort hit
the inside of the post and rebounded into the arms of Bokus.
Halkirk refused to lie down and More had to be alert to
claim a 30 yard free kick from Gavin Henderson. Another free kick from Benn
Murray on the left was headed away at the back post by MacLeod. Henderson lofted the ball
over the Wick defence and as Martin Murray raced up the middle in pursuit More
sprinted 20 yards to kick it away.
Campbell
initiated another good Academy move down the right and Sinclair made a well
judged interception. Then Macadie was in the clear and Bokus pulled off another
fine save to push the close range volley past his left hand post.
Another goal looked on the cards and although Bokus again
thwarted Macadie, the Highland League Player of the Year was quick to react and
retrieve the loose ball for Allan who gratefully lashed it into the middle of
the net to complete his hat trick.
Cautious of facing a side of fit enthusiastic County League
players while they themselves were still short of match practice Academy had
done more than enough to earn a comfortable win. They will now have a midweek
tie on August 11 or 12 at home to Brora Rangers, 2-0 winners at Bonar Bridge.
Sponsors Man of the match David Allan
Pictured receiving his award from David Sutherland, David Sutherland and Gavin Fairweather on behalf of match sponsor "Guests of Wick Academy F.C."
