Academy
started to get into the game following the goal, and six minutes later they
squared the scores. Gary Manson swung the ball from the left flank into the box
for Academy new boy James Pickles who laid the ball into the path of Geruzel
and the big centre forward rifled home into the top corner of the net.
1 – 1
In the last
action of the half Gary Clark sliced a shot well wide of target, and down the
other end of the park Grant Steven made a clearing header at the back post from
a dangerous looking Shawn Scott cross.
Half time –
Wick Academy 1 – Buckie Thistle 1
Buckie had
a great chance to take the lead in the first minute of the second half when
Zander Sutherland pounced on some slack Academy defending but he blasted his
shot wide of Gray's left hand post.
A few
minutes later Richard Macadie combined well with Stevie Cunningham, with
Macadie slipping the ball into the path of Cunningham in the heart of the
Buckie box, but Cunningham just failed to collect the ball and it ran to
safety.
Macadie
then crossed for Geruzel but the Polish striker's diving header bounced off the
back of a Buckie defender.
Academy
were enjoying a good period of play and Davie Allan took on all-comers as he
flew down the right flank hitting the bye-line before crossing to Mackay but
his goal-bound shot smashed off the back of Lewis MacKinnon.
The game
was now end-to-end and Zander Sutherland broke clear and homed in on goal but
Grant Steven supplied the cover and timed a perfect tackle to snuff out the
attack.
Davie Allan
again flew down the right wing as he hit the turbo-boost before cutting the
ball across the face of goal but this time there was no takers in a black and
white shirt.
With 77
minutes on the clock Academy took the lead. Geruzel leaped highest in the
Buckie box to nod a cross into the path of Davie Allan and he smoked a screamer
into Main's bottom right hand corner.
2 – 1
Academy
almost increased their lead minutes later. Michael Gray launched a bye-kick
down-field. The ball bounced through the middle of the Buckie back line for
Macadie to latch onto. He slid substitute Weir in on goal and it took a latch
ditch tackle at the base of the near post to clear the danger for a corner
kick.
In a
nail-biting final 10 minutes Buckie gave their all to try to try to snatch a
point. Lewis MacKinnon launched a long ball over the top of the Academy defence
and Zander Sutherland got his head down and matched onto the box with ball at
feet. As he looked to pull the trigger Ross Allan timed a tremendous tackle to
block the attempt and his defensive partner Grant Steven followed in behind to
clear the danger and secure the 3 points.
Full time –
Wick Academy 2 – Buckie Thistle 1
Sponsor's man of the match Davie Allan
Pictured receiving his award
from Rob Murray on behalf of match sponsor ITP Solutions Ltd
