Ken Wood does a roundup of Academy's pre-season friendlies
While the rest of us were lazing
in front of a TV cheering on Iceland and Wales, the Academy players were put
through their paces to build fitness and strength at the start of their
pre-season.
A couple of away warm up games
were played in early July. Davie Allan scored a consolation goal when we lost
2-1 to the Ross County Under 21 side at Dingwall while Ross Allan, Andrew
Mackay and Gary Weir found the net in a 3-1 win at Invergordon.
Caithness AFA side Castletown
helpfully fitted in a friendly among their County League games on Thursday 14
July. Marc MacGregor notched a hat-trick and Richard Macadie scored two in an
8-1 win, the other goals netted by Danny Mackay, Davie Allan and Andrew Mackay.
Home fans had their first chance
to see the team in a midday kick off on County Show Day 16 July.
WICK ACADEMY 1 ORKNEY 1 (Academy
won 5-4 on penalties)
Academy lifted their first
silverware of the new season after Sam Mackay netted his team's sixth spot-kick
of the shoot-out to claim the Ken Green Challenge Cup.
Wick enjoyed plenty of first
half possession, taking the lead in the 18th
minute when Davie Allan cut in from the
right and after slipping on the greasy surface, regained his footing to steer
the ball across to Sam Mackay who stroked it in from six yards.
In the second half Academy won a
series of corners on the left and Gary Manson twice ran down the right and
supplied good crosses but the Islanders' rearguard dealt efficiently with these
threats. The closest to another goal was at the top end around the hour mark
when a well struck 25 yard drive from Owen Rendall was smothered by Wick keeper
Sean McCarthy.
The only real excitement for the
200 fans came just four minutes from time when Wick defender Michael Steven
tangled with Orkney's substitute forward Jamie Flett near the penalty spot.
After consulting his linesman, referee Ben Dempster awarded a penalty kick
which Ryan McFerran duly drove into the bottom corner of the net for the equaliser.
Orkney had the upper hand for
much of the shoot-out. Daniel Harcus and Richard Macadie duly converted the
first kicks and McFerran made it 2-1. Keeper Cameron McConnachie dived to his
right to hold Gary Weir's tame effort from Wick's second kick and Ciaran Drever
gave Orkney a 3-1 lead. However, Manson and Davie Allan held their nerve to
keep Wick in contention and after McCarthy saved Orkney's fifth kick from
Connon Rendall, Andrew Mackay equalised. When Axel Bondoux fired too high, Sam
Mackay was able to clinch the win by firing in his spot kick.
Wick Academy: S McCarthy,
Manson, M Steven, G Steven, D Mackay (A Mackay 61), R Allan, S Mackay, Macadie,
D Allan, MacGregor (Campbell 69), Weir. Sub (unused) – D McCarthy.
Orkney: McConnachie, O Rendall,
Bondoux, Kirkness, McFerran, Aim (MacVie 46), Paterson, S Hellewell (C Rendall
60), Berry (Harcus 52), C Hellewell (Flett 60), Wilson (Drever 72).
Academy went over the Pentland
Firth last Saturday and won 2-0 away to Orkney at the Pickaquoy Centre, with goals
from James Pickles and Richard Macadie and on Wednesday evening completed their
preparations for the Highland League campaign with a home game v Inverness
Caley Thistle.
Wick Academy 1 Inverness CT 4
Scorers – Wick: Macadie (6 pen)
Brown (12) Sutherland (56) Fisher (67) Macrae (82)
Manager Gordon Connelly wasn't
too concerned about the result as he wanted to ensure his entire squad got some
game time. It was confirmed High Ormlie Hotspur midfielder Andrew Mackay has
signed a permanent deal to join the Scorries with trialists Michael Petrie, Jon
Campbell and goalkeeper Owen Gordon also featuring during the 90 minutes.
Looking at the talent already
available in Caithness is how Connelly looking to boost his squad for the
forthcoming season. "We're keen to look at the local talent that can come in."
he said. "Andrew Mackay has signed a contract after doing really well, but
we're still looking. The nucleus of the squad is there, but it's all about
adding the bits and pieces to complete the job."
Academy took the lead after just
six minutes when Steven Anderson was fouled in the box by Ryan MacRitchie.
Richard Macadie's spotkick was too powerful for Stephen Foster. The lead lasted
six minutes as ICT equalised when Sean McCarthy fumbled Sam Robertson's shot
and the ball fell kindly for Jason Brown to score from close range. ICT took
the lead in the 56th minute when Ali Sutherland beat the offside trap to
connect with Blair McLennan's cross and struck a sweet finish into the bottom
right hand corner. Alex Fisher made it 3-1 midway through the second half
running straight through the heart of Academy's defence before striking a cool
finish past McCarthy. Andrew Macrae then scored the goal of the game seven
minutes from time with a perfectly weighted chip from 18 yards.
Wick: McCarthy (Gordon 83),
Macrae, G Steven, Farquhar, R Allan, S Mackay (Campbell 66), Manson (Petrie
53), Anderson, D Allan (A Mackay 45), Macadie, MacGregor (Weir 45).
ICT: Foster,
Stark (Wilson 45) Rennie, Brown, Macritchie (Brown 63) Maclennan, Horner,
Macarthur, Fisher, Sutherland, Robertson (Macrae 66)
