On the half-hour Academy had two further chances. Allan
drove up the right flank and delivered to Stevie Cunningham on the edge of the
box but his shot was saved at the second attempt by keeper Ridgers. Mackay then
played Gary Manson in on goal but he fired his shot straight to the keeper.
Academy increased their advantage on 31 minutes. Gary Weir
picked up the ball on the edge of the Strathspey box and he slid a great pass
into Davie Allan. Keeper Ridgers rushed out but Allan lifted it over him into
the far corner.
0 – 3
It took 34 minutes for the home side to create their first
real chance of the game. A cross from the right found David Ritchie on the edge
of the box and he hit a first-time volley that James More got both hands to
turning it for a corner.
The hosts were forced to make a substitution just before
half time when Jamie Fraser went off injured for Josh Peters.
The last chance of the first half again came from short
corner. Macadie into Allan, Allan back to Macadie (does this sound familiar?)
and from the left edge of the box Macadie flashed a shot across the face of
goal and just past the post.
Half-Time – Strathspey Thistle 0 – Wick Academy 3
Strathspey made a change for the start of the second half
with Bobrowski coming on for Thomas.
Strathspey had another chance on 52 minutes when substitute Bobrowski
turned on the edge of the Academy box but he fired his attempt just over the
cross-bar.
2 minutes later Academy scored again. Cunningham started the
move off playing the ball into Davie Allan who charged up the right wing. Weir
won a header from Allan's crossed ball that looked goal-bound but keeper
Ridgers made a great save. Unfortunately he couldn't hold it and Macadie
followed up to fire home between his legs.
0 – 4
The chances kept coming for the Scorries as they created
another opening 2 minutes later, Shearer got on the end of a free-kick at the back post to play it across
goal for Weir to head on target but Ridgers again made the save.
Ridgers was being kept more than busy as he again made a
save from Macadie, it's all Academy!
Barry Wilson made his first substitution with Bryan McKiddie
coming on for Craig Shearer.
The nap-hand came just after the hour mark. Cunningham set
up Macadie who managed to get a shot off that took a deflection off Gareth
Smith, but Macadie claimed the goal.
0 – 5
A few minutes later Wilson made another change Geruzel
coming on for Davie Allan.
Academy's 6th goal was made by the substitute
McKiddie and scored by Geruzel. McKiddie picked the ball up in the middle of
the park and played a defence splitting pass to Geruzel. The big Polish striker
showed great composure, set himself and smoked the ball high into the top right
hand corner of the net.
0 – 6
A minute later the goal-count increased again. Sam Mackay
claimed his hat-trick. Macadie crossed into the box and Mackay got to the ball
first and he fired it across goal and in off the post.
0 – 7
Mackay was then substituted to great applause from the
Academy support and he was replaced by Gordon McNabb for his Academy debut.
Despite the score-line Academy kept pressing and created yet
another chance. Manson crossed from the left flank and Geruzel got his head to
the ball but Ridgers made a good save with his feet.
5 minutes from full-time and Academy again find the net.
Geruzel fed the ball wide on the right to Macadie who drove in and fired a low
cross to the near-post for Weir to make contact and float it home.
0 – 8
Within a minute it was 9 when Weir grabbed his second of the
game, gifted by the Strathspey defence. A back-pass was played to keeper
Ridgers who failed to clear under pressure from Geruzel. He stood firm as
Ridgers tried to wrestle the ball off him and he unselfishly cut it back
for Weir to tap home.
0 – 9
Full-Time – Strathspey Thistle 0 – Wick Academy 9
The result is Academy's best win in the League since we
joined in season 199495 and it puts us top of the table on goal difference
from Brora, Inverurie Locos and Formartine United. We now look forward to hosting
visitors Fraserburgh next Saturday at Harmsworth Park.
