Wick Academy Pre-Season Friendly Summary
Wick Academy v Ross County – 30th June.
Academy started their pre-season with a visit from Ross
County on the 30th June. The game started with a bit of confusion
with a clash of kit colours making it difficult for the players and spectators
to tell the teams apart. After 8 minutes
or so Academy changed to our yellow away tops and that solved the issue.
County's young squad started the better of the two sides and
scored after 20 minutes when Joel MacBeath cut in on the by-line from the left
and marched into the penalty area. With no County takers in the box for a cross
he tried his hand from the tightest of angles with a low shot and the ball
squirmed through McCarthy in the Academy goal and into the net.
The goal sparked Academy and Craig Gunn came close with a
shot that whistled just past the right-hand post. County Keeper Joe Williams
was sharp to get down to his left to save a Sam Mackay free-kick turning it for
a corner. The resulting corner was swung in by Gunn, half-cleared and fell at
the feet of Davie Allan who hammered home high into the roof of the net.
The sides went into the half-time break at 1-1, but Academy
really started to click during the second period. Jack Halliday tested keeper
Williams on 53 minutes when he made a good save from Halliday's 25 yard drive,
and minutes later he saved again when Marc McGregor directed the ball goalward following
a scramble at the back post.
Academy's 2nd came on 73 minutes when Davie Allan
demonstrated his blistering pace driving forward down the left wing, turned his
marker twice before cutting the ball back for Craig Gunn to drive home into the
bottom corner of the net with a well-taken goal.
The County youngsters proved to be good test however and
almost drew level but substitute Michael Steven cleared off the line.
Academy put the game to bed on 86 minutes. Gary Manson swung
in a freekick on the right of the penalty area. The ball ended up in the corner
of the net with Davie Allan claiming it skimmed off his head, Gary however also
had a shout that the goal was his.
Full Time – Wick Academy 3 – Ross County 1 Match Photos
Wick Academy v Orkney – 7th July
Academy welcomed Orkney to Harmsworth Park and reclaimed the
Ken Green Challenge Cup with a 3-1 victory.
The visitors had the better of the first half and took the lead
on 24 minutes. Sean McCarthy came wide out of his box but sliced a routine
clearance which fell to Liam Delday. He had a chance to hit it first time with
McCarthy out of position but he kept his cool to run in and fire home a right
foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.
5 minutes later Academy drew level. Gordie MacNab latched
onto a ball that was played over the top of the Orkney back-line by Sam Mackay.
With Orkney covering back MacNab held the ball up, before making some room, turning
his marker Wayne Lirkness, and he lashed home a stunner into the top left-hand
corner of the net.
It wasn't long before MacNab turned provider for Academy's
second goal of the game. He did well up the left wing, cut into the box holding
off his marker before squaring for Richard Macadie who drilled it home with a
sweet strike.
Just before the break Ross Allan landed awkwardly after
jumping for a high ball and unfortunately, he was stretchered off the field with what
sounded like a bad ankle injury. He was
whisked away to hospital by ambulance, but news followed that an x-ray didn't seem
to show any signs of a fracture, so we hope we will see Ross back in action
soon.
Academy pretty much killed the game within a minute of the
second-half re-start. Jack Halliday got a powerful shot on target that keeper
Cameron McConnachie managed to block, but the ball fell to the feet of the
on-rushing MacNab and he converted the re-bound from close-range.
MacNab almost grabbed his hat-trick. A ball over the top fell
to Craig Gunn who ran in on goal, drew the keeper before cutting back to MacNab
who got a shot on target, but the Orkney keeper managed to recover and somehow get something on it
to divert it over the cross-bar.
McConnachie was a busy man in the Orkney goal this time
denying Sam Mackay who tried to chip him.
Substitute Kyle Drever did have the ball in the back of the
net for Orkney just before full time, but it was ruled as off-side.
Full Time – Wick Academy 3 – Orkney 1 Match Photos
