Academy were having the better of the first half exchanges
playing quick attractive football and with 23 minutes played Richard Macadie
had a crack at goal which just flew inches over Paul Leask's cross-bar.
That was followed by Michael Steven shaving the outside of
the wood-work from a Sam Mackay free-kick.
Just in the half hour the Academy pressure paid off. Weir
slipped Gary Manson down the left hand channel. Manson looked up and spotted
Leask off his line and from 35 yards out Manson chipped the ball over Leask and
into the corner of the net.
1 – 0
Minutes later Zander Davidson got a shot on target that
looked as if it was going to creep over the line but Grant Steven covered back
and cleared the danger.
The Fraserburgh defence were pulled apart in the next
Academy attack. Sam Mackay got in behind them and cut the ball across goal.
Weir got on the end of it but keeper Leask blocked his shot with his feet. The
ball came back out and nicked off Bryan Hay, was swung back into the mix by Michael
Steven to the back post for Weir who followed in and headed home via a nick off
the inside of the post..
2 – 0
In the next Academy attack Mackay broke down the left flank and
he crossed for Macadie who was unmarked in the middle of the box for a free
header but he put his attempt over the cross-bar.
It was all Academy at this stage and 4 minutes from
half-time Davie Allan again hit the burners and burst through the Broch defence
and his shot flew inches past the outside of Leask's left hand post.
Allan then drove up the right flank and supplied a prefect
cross for Weir who threw himself at the ball but he was inches away from making
contact to turn it into the net.
Weir ended the half by scrapping for the ball at the edge of
the Fraserburgh box . He did well to win it but skied his shot over the top of
the target.
Half Time – Wick Academy 2 – Fraserburgh 0
Scott Fowlie didn't make the start of the second half and he
was replaced by Mark Cowie.
Fraserburgh started the second half with a bit more fire in
their belly and with 8 minutes played they should have pulled a goal back.
Slack defending by Academy let Marc Dickson in between Alan Farquhar and Gary
Manson but he dragged his shot and it clipped the outside of Gray's right hand post.
Bryan Hay picked up what was to end up a costly booking when
he shoulder-charged Sam Mackay off the park as Mackay made a run up the left
wing.
Academy had a shout for a penalty in the next attack when
Weir looked to have been clearly pushed over in the Fraserburgh box but referee
Baxter waved away the Academy protests.
Weir again had a chance but he smocked a David Allan cross
over the Fraserburgh cross-bar.
Grant Steven then made a great defensive tackle to keep the
visitors score to nil. Substitute Zak Conway broke into the Academy box and got
around Gray. As he looked to pull the
trigger Steven made a double blocking tackle and cleared the danger.
Fraserburgh were having a good spell and got their reward 20
minutes from full-time. Scott Barbour
collected a long ball that was punted over the top of the Academy defence, made
himself a yard and hammered home low past Gray from 10 yards out.
2 – 1
The visitors celebrations were short-lived as a minute later
when they went down to 10 men. Bryan Hay fouled Davie Allan and referee Baxter
flashed yellow before red and Hay was sent for an early bath.
Academy started to take advantage of the extra man and Davie
Allan stormed to the edge of the penalty area before driving the ball across
the face of goal but Fraserburgh cleared
their lines.
James Pickles came on for Stevie Cunningham, followed
shortly after by Lukasz Geruzel for Gary Weir.
6 minutes from full time Academy pressured and won a corner.
Macadie swung it to the back post where Geruzel outmuscled his defender but his
powerful header shaved the outside of the post.
3 minutes from full-time Academy sealed the win. Macadie
stole the ball in mid-field and flew up the right wing. He crossed for Geruzel
who held the ball up before teeing up substitute Pickles and the young
midfielder rifled the ball home for his first Academy league goal.
3 – 1
Academy put the icing on the cake a minute into injury time.
Macadie was played into the box, drew keeper Leask a few feet forward before
dinking the ball over his head with a ice-cool finish.
4 – 1
In the last kick of the game Macadie found himself in a
repeat position from where he had scored seconds earlier. He tried the same attempt
but this time didn't put enough height on the ball and Leask gathered it into
his midriff.
Full Time – Wick Academy 4 – Fraserburgh 1
With the bulk of the top teams all winning today Academy
retained 4th position. We now have our trip to England next Saturday
for the Scottish Cup 2nd round tie with Berwick Rangers.
Sponsor's man of the match Grant Steven
Pictured receiving his award
from Andrew Macintosh on behalf of match sponsor Keith Foubister and Friends
