| 30th March 2019 – Breedon Highland Football League | |
| Cove Rangers FC | 5 (Richard Macadie OG 49, Martin Scott 65, Daniel Park 83, Scott Ross 89, Mitchel Megginson 90) |
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Subs: Eric Watson, Jordon Brown, Jordon MacRae, Alan Redford, Grant Campbell, Sam Burnett, John McCafferty. |
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| Wick Academy FC |
0 |
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Subs: Craig Gunn Grant Aitkenhead, Greg Mackay, Mark Macadie, Gordon Clark. |
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| Referee: | Dan McFarlane |
| Bookings: | Michael Steven (33) – Red Daniel Park (40) Harry Milne (43) Marc MacGregor (50) Ross Allan (64) Jack Henry (65) |
| Sponsors Man of the Match: | |
| Match Photos – Mel & Bob Roger | |
(Jordan MacRea 74), Connor Scully, Scott Ross, Ryan Strachan, Daniel Park
Team: Sean McCarthy, Ross Allan
, Gary Manson, Alan Farquhar (c), Jack HenryWick Academy’s 25th Highland League game away to Cove could conceivably be the last – with the Aberdeen side aiming to make it into the SPFL for next season. A 5-0 defeat must look like a drubbing from the league leaders, but either team could have broken the deadlock during the goalless first half at Balmoral Stadium, and the result – and ultimately the winning margin – probably hinged on a 32nd-minute penalty incident.
A slick passing move saw a Davie Allan effort deflected for a corner but Cove launched a swift counter-attack. Sean McCarthy made a spectacular block to deny Cove’s top scorer Mitch Megginson. The ball rebounded to the striker, who was held back and tripped by Michael Steven – a clear goalscoring opportunity and inevitably a red card as well as a spot-kick. McCarthy flung himself low to his left to keep out Megginson’s well-struck penalty.
The first-half action had seen a string of saves by McCarthy, while Wick frequently broke forward with chances for Marc Macgregor, Richard Macadie and Allan.
Ten-man Wick defended well but early in the second half Cove took the lead. A Connor Scully free-kick went in off the head of the unfortunate Macadie.
On 64 minutes a low cross from the right by Scully was swept in at the back post by Martin Scott.
Academy looked set to avoid any further damage – but in the last five minutes the roof fell in.
Daniel Park’s angled shot cannoned off an upright and into the net off McCarthy’s shoulder, then Scott Ross scored with a close-range header. Megginson completed the rout with a great drive that deflected over McCarthy. Cove now prepare for Saturday’s cup final with Formartine before needing just a few more points to retain the title and the earn the chance to rise up to the SPFL via the end-of-season play-offs.
Match report written by Caithness Courier – Wed, April 3, 2019.
