PICTURES: Four-goal Andy Hunter helps Huntly finish Highland League season on a high at Wick Academy to the delight of manager Allan Hale
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FOUR goals from Huntly striker Andy Hunter fired down Wick Academy in their final game of the Highland League season.
The Christie Park side twice came from behind to land a 4-2 win at Harmsworth Park.
Wick Academy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Huntly keeper Euan Storrier failed to hold a high ball on his six-yard line and Mark Macadie nodded it in.
Two minutes later it was 1-1 as a low cross from the Huntly left was swept into the net by Hunter.
The Scorries regained the lead a minute before half-time when Gordon MacNab drilled in a low shot from about 25 yards.
The visitors equalised for a second time on 70 minutes when referee David Alexander awarded a penalty for a foul on Michael Dangana. Andy Hunter placed the ball high into the net to the right of Graeme Williamson.
It looked as though Academy might have to settle for a share of the points – but Huntly had other ideas. They went ahead on 84 minutes when Hunter sidestepped Williamson's challenge and steered the ball low into the net from a tight angle on the right.
The ex-Inverurie striker wasn't finished yet, as two minutes later he slammed in his fourth of the afternoon to complete the scoring.
Huntly manager Allan Hale felt that his team benefited from tiredness in the Wick Academy ranks as the Black and Golds twice came from behind to run out 4-2 winners at Harmsworth Park.
An under-strength Wick side, with only one substitute, had ended Buckie Thistle's 23-game winning streak in the Highland League with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Victoria Park in midweek.
“We had a threadbare squad," Hale said. "I know it's the same for Wick – a lot of clubs are the same at this stage of the season. Once again we had to make a few changes to the starting eleven and that means a change of shape which the players have to adapt to.
“I think once we adjusted, we asserted ourselves on the game. We were frustrated to go in 2-1 down. It was two errors from us that led to their goals.
“It was a great response in the second half, going downhill. We knew that Wick would have put a lot into their game on Wednesday night against Buckie so we mentioned that to the players.
“To their credit, I think once we got our second goal the adrenaline kicked in. We got our second wind and deservedly got the goals to win us the game.”
Hale had a special word for four-goal striker Andy Hunter, who joined from Inverurie at the end of last year.
“It says a lot about Andy's quality that he has come into the club quite late in the season and he has ended up being our top goalscorer," Hale said. "He's got that experience and he's got that quality – and four different types of finishes as well.
“It was a great overall team performance, especially the second half. In the last half-hour I thought we were excellent and capitalised on their tiredness. It is good to finish the season with a bit of momentum behind us.”
