Rothes 1
Wick Academy 5
League

Match Report

Academy travelled to MacKessack Park today for our penultimate game for this season and ran out 5 - 1 winners picking up a valuable 3 points. Davie Allan was suspended for this one and Danny McCarthy started between the sticks. Ryan Campbell from the U17's squad came on in the second half and scored his first Academy goal with a well taken glancing header.

The first chance of the game fell to Academy after 3 minutes. Danny Mackay played a long ball out of defence which was flicked on by Marc MacGregor to the edge of the Rothes box. Steven Anderson collected it and his shot was parried over the crossbar by keeper Iain Anderson.

In the next attack it was MacGregor who had a pop from a tight angle but his attempt found the side-netting.

Just before the quarter-hour mark the home side had their first sniff on goal. Ryan Stuart cut up the right flank and from the edge of the box fired in a left foot shot forcing Danny McCarthy into a good save.

Academy opened the scoring in the 16th minute. A Gary Manson cross from the left wing was knocked down by a Rothes defender and fell to Marc MacGregor and from 8 yards out he made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

0 - 1

Three minutes later and the scores were squared. A good passing move saw the ball played wide to Ricky Henderson on the left wing. His first time ball into the Academy box found Jamie Mackay and from 12 yards out he fired home into the bottom left hand corner.

1 - 1

Half an hour played and Academy created another opportunity. Colin Macrae took a free-kick just inside the Rothes half. It found Grant Steven at the back post and he laid it off to Gary Manson who took a touch but lifted his attempt onto the roof of the net.

On 35 minutes referee Ben Dempster awarded Academy a penalty when Steven Anderson was taken down in the Rothes box. Richard Macadie took the spot-kick and hammered it down the middle of the goal to put the Scorries back into the lead.

1 - 2

Shortly afterwards Macadie bagged his second in as many minutes. Sam Mackay played the ball out wide to Manson. Manson played a one-two back to Mackay who had a heavy touch but it bounced off a Rothes defender and fell kindly for Macadie and from 25 yards out he arrowed a great shot into the top corner of the net.

1 - 3

Half Time - Rothes 1 - Wick Academy 3

The first chance of the second half came after 8 minutes. A ball up the right wing found Colin Macrae and he delivered it into the box but under pressure Steven Anderson headed wide of the target.

Two minutes later Academy increased their lead. Marc MacGregor had a shot saved by Rothes keeper Anderson but it fell to Steven Anderson who was on it like a flash and he poked it home from 3 yards out.

1 - 4

Ryan Campbell from our under 17's squad came on for James McLean and the youngster wasn't long on the park before he scored his first Academy goal. Gary Manson delivered a great cross from the right wing onto the head of Campbell and he glanced his header into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

1 - 5

Up the other end Rothes won a corner. It was swung into the box and headed goal-ward by Rothes captain Donald Horsburgh but Danny McCarthy saved and then collected it on the second attempt.

Substitutes Ross Allan and Gary Weir were involved in the next move. Ross Allan drove it up the wing and Weir stepped over it allowing it to run onto Marc MacGregor. He went around keeper Anderson but from a tight angle drove the ball into the side netting.

Three minutes before full-time Rothes created another chance. Ricky Henderson played a one-two with Daniel Smith allowing Henderson to run in on goal but from 13 yards out he lifted his attempt onto the roof of the net.

In the last action of the match Ross Allan played a diagonal ball into the Rothes box to Gary Weir. Weir took a touch and then fired a good shot on target that keeper Anderson knocked onto the crossbar and over to safety.

Full Time - Rothes 1 - Wick Academy 5

The result today keeps Academy in 6th spot just behind Inverurie Locos who beat Turriff United. It's Cove's day however as they beat Fort William to leap to the top of the table. Academy now travel to Fraserburgh next Saturday for our last game of the season.

Match report written by Luke Bunch