Inverurie Locos 0
Wick Academy 1
League

Match Report

Wick Academy ran out 1-0 winners at Harlaw Park today denying Locos the chance to go level on points at the top of the table with leaders Buckie Thistle. The only goal of the game came in the 59th minute. Jack Halliday was taken down in the Locos box by Mark Souter and referee Liam Duncan flashed a straight red card to Souter for the challenge. Gary Manson converted the spot-kick.

Inverurie finished the game with nine men after an incident involving Sam Mackay and Jamie Michie. Michie was sent off as a result and picked up another red as he left the field.

Following an incident in the tunnel after the final whistle Neil Gauld also picked up a red card.

Academy had the first half-attempt on target. A long ball was floated up to Jack Halliday. He took it out of the air with good control but fell backwards in trying to get his shot off and could only stab it forward for keeper Andy Reid to collect.

Locos won a free-kick about 20 yards from goal. Calum Reid took it and managed to get a low drive around the Academy wall but it went wide of target.

Locos came close to the opening goal. Sean McCarthy came for a high cross from their right wing but Greg Mitchell got his head to the ball first sending a looping header goal-ward that Craig Gunn headed to safety before it could cross the line.

Academy enjoyed a good period of possession and a dipping Ryan Campbell shot from 30 yards whistled just over the top of the Locos crossbar.

Academy’s goal came just before the hour mark from Jack Halliday who picked the ball up just inside his own half in the centre of the park. He skipped past Jamie Michie and drove at the Locos back line leaving two or three defenders in his wake. Mark Souter covered back and took Halliday down from behind as he homed in on goal. Referee Duncan had no hesitation in showing Souter a straight red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Gary Manson took responsibility for the spot-kick and he fired home past keeper Reid.

Manson had a good run down the left flank and delivered a low cross into the box to Richard Macadie but his left foot shot on the swivel from a fairly tight angle was high of target.

Good interchange play between MacNab and Campbell had MacNab free in the box. Keeper Reid forced him wide but MacNab went round him. His attempted cross back across the face of goal was cut-out and Locos cleared their lines.

A flash-point came in the 69th minute. Sam Mackay slid in to pick the ball off the feet of Jamie Michie in the Academy penalty area. The referee played on, but Michie took offence to Mackays tackle and ran up behind him and took his studs down the back of Mackays leg. Mackay and Michie came together along with other players piling in, including substitute Jonathan Smith who ran in and sent Mackay to the ground with a two-handed shove. Referee Liam Duncan and the linesman split it up and then sent Michie off with a straight red for his tackle, followed by another red as it looks as if words were exchanged as he was leaving the field. Smith also got a yellow card for his involvement in the fracus.

Full Time – Inverurie Locos 0 – Wick Academy 1

Following the final whistle Neil Gauld was also given a red card for an incident as the players left the field.

Match report written by John Briskham

Newspaper extract from Caithness Courier - 6th November 2019.