Allan the match hero in hard-fought draw

KEITH...................................1

WICK ACADEMY...................1

Scorers – Keith: Niddrie (25). Wick Academy: D. Allan (42).

DAVIE Allan continued his prolific goal-scoring form into the new year as Wick Academy picked up another point on the road after a hard-fought draw at Kynoch Park.

With Harmsworth Park still sodden as a result of the heavy rain which has affected the pitch since Hogmanay, the match was switched to Strathbogie 48 hours before kick-off to play the rearranged fixture, which was postponed in September due to Keith playing in the Aberdeenshire Shield final.

The Scorries’ recent run of good form came to a halt in Banff when an inspired James Blanchard between the sticks resulted in Davie Kirkwood’s men returning to the Far North which nothing to show for their first-half dominance in a 2-0 defeat against Deveronvale.

But with wins at Brora, Clach and Formartine together with a point at Victoria Park against floundering champions Buckie Thistle during Academy’s run of five wins in their last eight league matches, the Caithness club showed no fear visiting one of the Highland League’s heavyweights.

But when the opposition has a strike partnership of the calibre of Cammy Keith and Jamie Lennox, the defence was always going to be in for a rough time.

Michael Steven was not unaware of the danger as he blocked a troubling cross between the pair and put the ball out for a corner after 10 minutes.

Andy McAskill’s cross was headed out of the box by Alan Farquhar but found Sean Keith whose 20-yard pile-driver was tipped over the bar by Academy’s Michael Gray, who continues to impress since claiming the number one shirt from Alan Bokas.

The home side took the lead with 25 minutes played when McAskill once again launched a cross which found Kris Niddrie who was left unattended at the back post for an easy nod in.

Wick brought the game level four minutes before half-time when a lack of communication in defence resulted in a sloppy pass being seized upon by Stevie Cunningham. He sent through Allan, whose lightning pace resulted in the Maroons coughing up his dust. Employing his signature rounding the goalkeeper he slotted the ball home.

The weather conditions deteriorated in the second half, with the pitch still heavy after recovering from the snow that fell in the North-east last week.

But the visitors started to create a number of chances against their bogey side.

Their best chance came in the 76th minute when Allan found himself unmarked in the box one-on-one with Andy Shearer.

The Maroons goalkeeper stood tall to block Allan’s shot which rolled towards Richard Macadie who looked like he would finish the job off. But a last-ditch lunge from Zander Jack diverted the ball away from danger.

Keith had one last chance to keep the three points at Kynoch Park in the final minute when Faroese substitute Odmar Faeroe played through for goal machine Cammy Keith who went down in the box, resulting in furious claims for a penalty.

But referee Martin Kerrigan waved away the protests, deeming it to be a fair challenge and blew for full-time.

It was another impressive result at a ground which Academy traditionally struggle at; they’ll look forward to bolstering the goal difference at Fort William on Saturday.

Keith: Shearer, Jack, Lonie, Niddrie, Walker, Raffell (Faeroe 82), S Keith (Fowlie 77), McAskill, C. Keith, Lennox (Anderson 70), Donaldson. Subs not used: McAllister, Kinnaird.

Wick Academy: Gray, M. Steven, R. Allan, Farquhar, G. Steven, Shearer, Cunningham, Ross, D. Allan, Macadie, S. Mackay. Subs not used: Weir, Sinclair, McKiddie, J. Mackay, Clark.

Referee: M. Kerrigan.