Good passing football by both Wick and Rothes made the first half of this match an entertaining affair despite its lack of goals.  Lack of goals did not mean a lack of creativity or chances though -  and first to test a goalkeeper was Wick's Gordon McNab after 9 minutes when his low shot had Rothes keeper Darren McConnachie scrambling to his right to gather the ball.

Rothes immediately broke up field with the ball finding Scott Davidson inside the 18 yard box but Danny Mackay was quick enough to get a foot to the ball sending it out for a corner.  The next real chance fell to Wick after neat passing between Steven Anderson and Gordon McNab left McNab in space 12 yards out from goal - but the Academy man pulled his shot well wide of the post.

Despite the good football on show and the teams swapping attacks neither keeper was really troubled again until the 25^th minute when Rothes Jamie Wilson made his way into the 18 yard box, turned defender Ross Allan, and unleashed a shot that had Wick keeper Sean McCarthy diving low to his right to push the ball away.

Academy were then straight back up the field with Steven Anderson powering down the left wing. He cut into the 6 yard box unchallenged but, while his left foot shot beat the Rothes keeper the ball ran just wide of the far post.

The best chance of the first half fell to Rothes' Craig Cameron on the half hour, when, after finding the gap between Wick's Jack Henry and Danny Mackay inside the penalty box, his right foot shot had Wick keeper Sean McCarthy beaten but the ball crashed back off the top of the right hand post.

Rothes gathered momentum , Ross Allan had a timely intervention on the edge of the box as Scott Davidson was about to shoot, the loose ball fell to Craig Cormack , but Jack Henry stretched in to knock the ball away from the toes of Cormack just as he was about to weave his way into a shooting position.

Half time 0 - 0

Tom McKenna Appointed As New Wick Academy Manager

Wick Academy FC appoint Tom McKenna as Manager on a 2 year contract.

New Manager Tom McKenna comes to the Club with a lifetimes experience in both playing and coaching football.

Tom has played for numerous clubs in his career including; Rochdale, Airdrie, Stenhousemuir FC, and also played for Amu Zulu in the South African Premier League for 2 seasons.

Tom has been involved on occasion in his coaching capacity with WAFC for the last couple of years working with the Under 17's and this season has been involved with the first team squad. Prior to that he coached and managed in different capacities at Rochdale, Dundee University, Alloa and Clyde FC.

Vice Chairman Ewan Mackenzie commented "we are delighted to appoint Tom as manager, to have someone involved in your Club who currently holds an UEFA A licence as well as an UEFA Elite Youth A licence along with his vast experience in the footballing world made Tom an outstanding applicant and an obvious choice to take the reins as Manager" Ewan added " Now settled in Thurso, employment reasons took Tom to Caithness from the Central Belt and to have someone with his background on our doorstep was too good an opportunity to miss, we wish Tom all the success and good luck as we look forward to successful times again at Harmsworth Park".

Richard Hughes and Ross Suttar will remain in place as Tom's co-assistant managers.

Wick Academy FC would like to thank everyone who applied for the position.