Wick 2 – Clach 2

Two pieces of good fortune got Wick Academy out of jail as they came from behind to snatch a draw with Clachnacuddin. Before the 75th minute, you got the impression that had the Scorries a compass, a map and a huge sign be-hind the goal saying “boot the ball in here”, they still would have been the wolf that huffed and puffed and failed to blow the third little pig’s brick house down. After all, given that the last seven days had seen them ship eight goals with none scored in return, not even a man sired by the seventh son of a seventh son would have had the visionary sight to predict a comeback. But they say football’s a funny old game – although Clach boss Iain Polworth’s Yosemite Sam impression in the dugout suggests he didn’t find Wick’s comeback amusing.
Clach had earlier got off to a flying start after only 50 seconds when Academy keeper Sean McCarthy flapped at a cross to leave Fraser Robertson with an easy tap-in.
Wick’s Michael Steven should have levelled when presented with an open goal, but he hit both the post and the crossbar following an error by Clach keeper Alasdair MacLean.
Clach doubled their lead when a mix-up involving McCarthy and his de-fence allowed Stuart Leslie to walk the ball into the net.
Academy got a lifeline when Keiran Chalmers fouled Jack Halliday with referee Gordon Seago deeming it to be inside the box when it looked outside. Gary Manson drilled in the spot-kick.
The comeback was complete with six minutes left. Davie Allan’s cross looked to be a routine clearance for Clach’s defence only for Fraser Robertson to steer the ball into his own net.

Tonight’s man on the match Jack Henry is pictured with Josh Hill from Match Sponsor Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd

Match report written by John o Groat Journal – Fri, Aug 31, 2018.