With an hour
played Keith had a great chance to equalise, Mackay's free kick on the left was
missed by everyone and hit the post, the ball came out and hit Jonathan Smith on
the head but he could only steer the ball wide of the post from a yard out.
Another injury
forced another Academy change. Gary Weir had received a clatter mid-way through
the first half that he had been carrying, and he was replaced by Alex Lamb who
took a front line role for probably the first time in his career.
On 83 minutes Keith thought they had equalised. Cammy Keith waltzed through the
Wick defence but as he hit the ball forward another Keith player went to the
ball before Cammy had hit his shot and the linesman flagged for offside.
Keith did get their goal two minutes later and it was that man Cammy Keith in one of the few occasions he managed to get away from Alan Farquhar and
he showed great predatory instincts to fire the ball across goal and into the
bottom corner to send the tie into extra time.
Full time Wick Academy 1 – Keith 1.
Neither team created much in the first period of extra time with tired legs on
both sides taking effect. It took 14 minutes for an attempt on goal. A deep
free kick was missed by Alan Bokas and was knocked into a central area to Cammy
Keith and you would have put your money on him to score but from four yards he
could only hit the bar.
Half time in extra time Wick Academy 1 – Keith 1.
Keith got the breakthrough 3 minutes into the second period of extra time, Bokas
got down well to save a shot from Gary Mcnamee but Cammy Keith was on hand to
tuck home the rebound and put the Maroons in prime position.
Academy however were having none of it and showed their fighting spirit when just
two minutes later Shane Sutherland controlled a low cross into the box and laid
it back to Macadie and from just inside the box he curled the ball into the top
corner to send the Harmsworth faithful into raptures.
Three minutes later and the Scorries thought they had won it. Macadie played the ball
into Alex Lamb and he laid it off to Gunn, Gunn turned away from his man before
hitting the post, the ball fell to makeshift striker Lamb but he was stretching
and could only fire against the bar.
With not a
finger-nail left in the ground referee Lyon blew the whistle for full time and
the penalty kicks took centre stage.
Full time in extra time Wick Academy 2 – Keith 2.
The teams
shook hands and the drama of spot kicks un-folded. Both keepers made stops from
Michael Steven and Cammy Keith. McKiddie and Lennox slotted home the next two
efforts and the decisive moment then came when Cunnigham sent his effort down
the centre but Andy Shearer spread himself and made a telling block. McAllister
scored his effort to put Keith one up, and although Sutherland and Macadie
tucked their efforts away Wayne Mackay ended proceedings as he sent Bokas the
wrong way and he slotted his effort home safely to start the Keith celebrations.
Final Score –
Keith win 4 – 3 on penalty kicks.
So the end of
Academy's Cup ventures for another season, in a year in both league and cup
competitions that we've had many narrow defeats. Keith now go onto face Rothes
in the next round, who beat Forres today by a single goal. Academy must now re-focus
on taking as many points as possible from the remaining 13 league games.
sponsor Gow's of Lybster
