Second Half
Turriff came out strongly at the start of the second half
with Owen Cairns lashing a shot over the bar within a minute of the restart.
The next real chance came on the hour when Darren Wood met a corner with a
powerful header from the edge of 6 yard box.
The ball flashed across the goal with no one able to get a touch. Another chance for Turriff after 67 minutes
when a thundering shot by Louis Myers from 25 yards had the Wick keeper rooted
to the spot, but the ball crashed back off the post.
Academy's turn to attack: and a driving run forward by Jack Halliday was
tracked across pitch by Scott Miller, who eventually lunged at the Wick player
from behind – advantage played by Referee Flippo Mazzoni and Halliday's pass
forward found Gordon McNab who put in a rasping cross that was headed behind by
Darren Wood for a corner. Referee Mazzoni called over Scott Miller but despite
calls from Wick players and fans alike only administered a warning to the
Turriff forward.
Referee Filippo Mazzoni produced his first yellow card of
the afternoon to Turriff's Chris Herd after 71 minutes for a late tackle on
Richard Macadie.
73 minutes – goal for Wick Academy!! – Great passing move and
Gordon McNab latched onto a through ball 10 yards out and fired his shot high
into the net past Kevin Main, for his opening goal for Academy. Wick 1 –
Turriff 1.
Filippo Mazzoni had his yellow card out again in the 75th
minute when Scott Miller went through the back of Grant Steven as the Wick man
attempted to clear his goal line.
Into the last 15 minutes and Sam Mackay powered down the
left, hurdled a challenge from James Chalmers and fired a cross into the six
yard box that was well cut out by Cammy Bowden for a Wick corner.
End to end stuff ensued: Scott Miller forced a great save from Sean McCarthy,
then immediately, Academy broke down left with Gary Manson but with Kevin Main
at full stretch Manson's shot went just wide of his far post.
Academy switched the play and drove down the right wing with
Brandon Sinclair – Grant Steven met Sinclair's
cross but his header was cleared by Owen Cairns for corner.
Two substitutions for Turriff in the final ten minutes: Owen Cairns replaced by David Ross after
landing heavily in a challenge Jack Halliday and Darren Wood limped off to be
replaced by Calum Reid.
As the match entered the dying minutes there was another
chance for Wick – a free kick was
awarded to Academy after tussle between Gary Manson and David Booth, Gary Manson fired the ball into the box but it
was punched well clear by keeper Kevin
Main.
Into the 92nd minute and a booking for Grant Steven after
missing ball as he slid in to tackle Calum Reid. The last chance of the match fell to Turriff
from the resulting free kick but Grant Steven headed clear before McCarthy
collected ball as the final whistle blew.
Academy well worth the draw in what was Manager Gordon
Connelly's final game. Good luck Gordon and thanks for the memories.
