Wick Academy 2
Buckie Thistle 0
League

Match Report

A strong wind and a bobbly pitch ensured it was never going to be a classic, but Saturday’s victory over Buckie Thistle was nevertheless a highly satisfactory day’s work for Wick Academy as they extended their unbeaten sequence in the Highland League to eight games.
Three days after seeing off Nairn County by the same scoreline, the Scorries kept up their impressive run and boosted their chances of finishing seventh in the table thanks to a well-taken double from in-form striker Marc Macgregor.
With 20 minutes gone, Jack Henry nodded the ball on to Macgregor but the striker’s tame effort was easily gathered by Buckie’s young keeper Lee Herbert – fresh from playing for Scotland under-18s against England in a Centenary Shield match at Inverurie the previous night.
Then a sweeping move ended with Macgregor pulling his shot wide of goal with a Buckie defender getting the last touch.
At the other end, Sam Robertson raced through and drilled a deflected shot just beyond the far post.
Gary Manson delivered a ball over the top to Henry, whose angled drive produced a diving save from Herbert.
The first period looked destined to end in a stalemate, but Macgregor had other ideas.
In the 42nd minute, with the Scorries probing for an opening around the edge of the box, Macgregor neatly evaded the challenge of Shaun Wood before unleashing a powerful drive high past the keeper.
There was still time before the break for the visitors to threaten again. Wood picked out Steven Ross sneaking in at the back post but Sean McCarthy was alert to the danger.
Academy doubled their lead on 62 minutes with a strike that was all about opportunism and improvisation.
Sam Mackay knocked the ball forward and it fell nicely into Macgregor’s path outside the penalty area on the right. The striker was off balance and falling back, with a defender in close attendance, yet he managed to send a wind-assisted lob over Herbert and into the net.
There was a more purposeful look about Academy now and Mackay set up an opening for Richard Macadie, who saw his first attempt blocked before firing a follow-up shot just wide.
When a Buckie free kick came to nothing, Academy raced up-field on the counter-attack and Henry played Macadie through for a drive that was parried by Herbert.
McCarthy ventured out of his box as Buckie pressed forward again and the Wick keeper earned a cheer for a skilful flick of the boot to snuff out the danger.

Match report written by Caithness Courier - Wed, March 27, 2019.