Lowly Fort make the muted Scorries sweat

Highland League

Wick Academy 1

Fort William 0

Scorer: Weir (23)

THE last time traditional whipping boys Fort William visited Harmsworth Park, they were on the receiving end of an 8-1 thrashing.

Academy were just relieved to pick up the three points on Saturday as a lacklustre display almost saw the plucky underdogs head back to the west Highlands with a point on the back of a sprightly performance very few expected.

Barry Wilson made a number of changes to his squad with James More and Shaun Sinclair getting first team starts ahead of regulars Michael Gray and Michael Steven.

With Richard Macadie out through suspension, Alan Farquhar injured due to a calf injury and Davie Allan on the bench, the manager wanted to make full use of squad ahead of tonight’s game with Brora Rangers.

However, the rejig almost backfired and Wilson made it clear in the dressing room at full-time that he is expecting more from his side.

Fort William almost took a shock lead in the fifth minute when against the run of play Andrew McLean tore down the right wing and sent in a cross to find Lewis Campbell alone in the penalty box, forcing More

to stretch his legs to block his shot.

Academy sprung into life after the early scare and 20 minutes into the game, Ross Allan chased down the wing to play a clever one-two with Gary Weir to leave him clear on goal but Kyle Robertson parried his effort away for a corner.

The home side were not to be denied and three minutes later broke the deadlock after Sam Mackay was hacked down by Michael Gillespie to give Wick a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Gary Manson then passed to Mackay on the edge of the box, who chipped the ball over the defence to find the head of Weir who nodded home.

The Academy backline were found guilty of standing back and almost allowed Fort to equalise 10 minutes into the second half when McLean chanced his luck when he let rip from 20 yards

but sailed just wide of the left

post to the relief of the goalkeeper.

Stevie Cunningham — one of the few players Wilson singled out for praise — almost created a second goal when his defence-splitting pass found Mackay on the edge of the penalty box with only the goalkeeper to beat, but a lack of composure saw him sky his shot over the bar and into South Road.

Cunningham continued to look lively and when his pass found Lukasz Geruzel, the Pole managed to chip the goalkeeper but Gillespie managed to clear the ball off the line.

The frustration of the home side was highlighted after Gillespie fouled Sam Mackay and the captain complained to the referee that the Fort player should have been booked. Referee Douglas Ross thought Mackay took his protests too far and gave him a yellow card, which brought angry responses from Gary Manson and Weir who also ended up in the book.

Wick: More, Sinclair, Manson, Pickles, G. Steven, Shearer (M. Steven 53), Mackay, Cunning-ham, Weir, Geruzel (Wilson 80), R. Allan (D. Allan 64).

Subs not used: Gray and McKiddie.

Fort William: Robertson, McDonald, Campbell, Foggo, Quigg, Gillespie, Duncan, Farquhar, Forbes (Hunter 74), Groat, McLean.

Subs not used: Corbett, Morrison, MacInnes.

Referee: Douglas Ross.