Within a minute Academy drew level. They drove at Strathspey from the re-start and the ball was played wide right to Sam Mackay. Mackay fired in a speculative shot that crept under the body of Strathspey keeper Kyle Robertson.
1 – 1
Academy settled into the game and took the lead when Sam Mackay scored his second of the game An Academy throw-in found Grant Campbell who ran forward unchallenged and he slid a great pass through the middle of the Strathspey defence for Sam Mackay who was in one-on-one with keeper Kyle Robertson. Mackay kept his cool and made no mistake in finding the net.
1 – 2
Lukasz Geruzel was next to get in on the action when the Jags keeper Roberson could only parry out a long range shot and Geruzel was on hand to snap it up.
1 – 3
Half Time – Strathspey Thistle 1 – 3
It’s now constant Academy pressure with James Pickles hitting the post before Geruzel again found space in the box like Mackay the Polish striker also bagged his second goal of the game.
1 – 4
Academy went nap on 53 minutes when a long ball was played up-field to Ross Allan who hit the Strathspey bye-line before crossing for James Pickles to slot home.
1 – 5
Strathspey to their credit kept battling away and they pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Jordan Wardrope took a shot from the edge of the box and a deflection sent it past Sean McCarthy.
2 – 5
It’s raining goals at Seafield Park as Academy notch up another goal. Davie Allan was fouled and Academy were awarded a free kick. Manager Gordon Connelly shouted for Ross Allan to come forward to take it and he didn’t disappoint curling a peach of a left shot into the net.
2 – 6
It’s all action and Weir is one-on-one with keeper Robertson but the Jags goalie saved with his foot.
More goals to come and Academy scored their 7th. Mackay picked up a lose ball in the middle of the park and he crossed to James Pickles who got the better of Martin Groat and he hammered home a 40 yard screamer into the top corner of the net.
2 – 7
More to come when with only two minutes of the game left to play substitute Steven Anderson scored his first goal in Academy colours. Pickles fed Anderson at the edge of the box. Anderson’s first shot was blocked by a defender but second time around he fired home. Keeper Robertson got a foot to Anderson’s shot but he couldn’t keep it out.
2 – 8
On the death Sam Mackay bagged his hat-trick when he broke through on the right hand side of the box and he slammed a left foot shot past keeper Robertson to end the game in some style.
2 – 9
Jack Maley turned a bad day a bit worse for the Strathspey Jags when he was sent off by referee Alex Shepherd seconds before the full-time whistle.
Full Time – Strathspey Thistle 2 – Wick Academy 9
