Just after the half hour the Locos defence were again in
action. Kieran Adams almost headed into his own net and the ball was cleared
off the line. Lukasz Geruzel had a crack on the loose ball which was blocked
and the danger was finally cleared for a corner.
5 Minutes later Gary Manson floated a free-kick into the
Locos box. Craig Shearer got his head to it which caused another scramble in
the box before it was finally cleared down-field.
The visitors leveled the scores on 39 minutes. The ball was
worked across the edge of the Academy box where Neil McLean ran onto it and
struck a sweet right foot strike that beat Michael Gray low to his left and
found the net after kissing off the inside of the post.
1 – 1
2 minutes before the half-time break Academy regained the
lead. Stevie Cunningham was slid into the box and went one-on-one with keeper
Reid. Reid managed to get a hand to Cunningham's shot to make a good block.
Cunningham was sharp and picked up the re-bound and fired it across goal where
it hit off the post and Ross Allan was on hand to knock it home from only 2
yards out for his first league goal of the season.
2 – 1
Half Time – Wick Academy 2 – Inverurie Locos 1
Driving rain welcomed the teams for the start of the second
half but the standard of good flowing football didn't stop and Andrew Hunter
had the first half-chance for the visitors but Gray made a comfortable save.
5 minutes in the second half Neil McLean scored his second
to level the scores. The ball was cleared out of the Academy box following a
Locos attack and it fell to Mclean about 25 yards out. Academy were not quick
enough to close him down allowing him time to pick his spot and he rifled home
with another great right-foot strike.
2 – 2
At the other end Michael Steven sent a great ball
across the face of goal but there were no takers for it, and Richard Macadie then
had a similar attempt that Reid got a hand to knocking it out of harms way.
In the 66th minute Richard Macadie took a short corner that
was returned to him and from the edge of the box he fired in a cross cum shot
which bounced off the top of Reid's cross-bar.
Ross Allan was next to have a crack but Reid was again on
hand to get a hand on his crossed ball.
In the last of the action Academy tried to grab the winner. Geruzel
got the ball to feet in the middle of the Locos box and he twisted and turned
before getting off a shot that was deflected over the top of goal for a corner
which was cleared by the Locos defence and referee Graham Elder blew for full
time.
Full Time – Wick Academy 2 – Inverurie Locos 2
