Wick Academy 2
Deveronvale 2
League

Match Report

Wick Academy and Deveronvale played out a 2-2 draw at Harmsworth Park today, that's only the seconds draw the sides have had in 45 league games. Sean McCarthy will be out for 3 or 4 weeks for a minor medical procedure, so younger brother Danny started between the sticks. Academy sported their new away kit for the first time, the design for which is based on the primary amber and blue colours of the Caithness flag.

Academy got their nose in front after only 4 minutes. James Pickles set Sam Mackay free and he ran in on goal before powering home a low drive from 12 yards out.

1 - 0

The visitors however drew level eight minutes later. Vale won a corner on their left which was swung into the box. The ball evaded everyone before bouncing in front of Danny McCarthy, coming off his chest and into the net for an unfortunate own-goal.

1 - 1

Steven Anderson had a toe-poke to keeper Blanchard before Academy were awarded a penalty. Paul Sutherland bundled over Danny Mackay in the Vale box and referee Billy Baxter pointed to the spot. Richard Macadie took the responsibility for the spot kick but keeper James Blanchard guessed the right way and dived to his left to make a good save.

Anderson held his head in his hands when his goal-bound shot took a deflection and went out for a corner.

Two minutes before the break Vale took the lead. Grant Noble had a great effort that was well saved by McCarthy but he could only parry it to the feet of Paul Sutherland who made no mistake in gobbling up re-bound to net from 10 yards out.

1 - 2

Half Time - Wick Academy 1 - Deveronvale 2

On the hour Academy were awarded another penalty when Lewis Dunbar handled the ball in the box. This time Sam Mackay assumed the honours and he hammered home into the bottom left hand corner.

2 - 2

The match started to hot up and the Academy players surrounded referee Billy Baxter in protest as he awarded Vale an indirect free-kick inside the Academy box. The ball looked to have come off the heel of James Pickles and ran through to McCarthy who picked it up, and it was adjudged to have been a back-pass. With every Academy player back in their own penalty area the Vale free-kick smashed off the defensive wall and out for a corner.

With 12 minutes left on the clock Vale went down to 10 men. Steven Fraser came in on James Pickles with a lunging tackle and referee Baxter had no hesitation in flashing him a straight red card.

Academy hunted for the winner and won a free kick. Sam Mackay took it but his attempt cracked off the wall. It fell to Michael Steven on the edge of the box and he hit it as sweet as a nut. The ball curled passed Blanchard and bulged the net sending the Harmsworth Park into ecstasy, but the joy was short lived as the stand-side linesman called over the ref. He must have thought that someone was impeding the keeper, as the goal was chalked off.

With Academy pushing forward still looking for the winner Vale broke out of defence and Nathan Smith almost won it but his flashing drive went just passed the outside of McCarthy's right hand post.

Full Time - Wick Academy 2 - Deveronvale 2