Reporters View: Wick Academy v Huntly

Reporters view: Wick Academy v Huntly
Report can be found here

After such a great team performance against Deveronvale a fortnight ago, it's disappointing to make the long trip to Wick for a league came and for the third successive season, return win-less.

Questions may be raised about Huntly's form away from home as the defeat yesterday has now seen us fail to win in our last four away trips.
In my opinion it wasn't that great a game - possibly worse than the game at Forres last month.
It certainly was frustrating stuff for everyone connected with the club who made the journey north. Suffering the early setback which saw the home side go 1-0 meant there was a lot more pressure to break down the stubborn home defence it took 90 minutes to do so through a deflected O'Driscoll goal.
We didn't take our chances (especially the Guild miss) which meant The Scorries left the field with a well-earned 3 points.

A very tricky game coming up on Saturday against Fraserburgh. Our home league form sees 5 wins out of 5, 21 goals and 6 conceded (2nd best home defence in the league).
This is a must-win game for the club.
We need a good performance and three vital points against the Broch ahead of the Scottish Cup tie at Berwick.

GOALS
Wick Academy:

1. Barry did well to block the initial effort but all credit to Paul McCallum who took advantage to net a well taken goal.
   
2. I'd Heard some good reviews on young Craig Gunn who netted a hat-trick earlier in the season. He made a great run from deep with 5 minutes to go taking on Alan Stephen before netting at the second attempt past Barry Thompson
   

Huntly:

1. A header towards goal from Jerry O'Driscoll came off the unfortunate Gordon Robertson and into the net. I certainly looked like an own goal but after much decision (and pelters from the player involved) I've credited Jerry with the goal who now leads our top scorers list with 13 goals beating Russell Guild by one goal.
   

OPPOSITION:
Wick certainly seem to make it difficult to anyone visiting Hamsworth Park and that was evident once again yesterday afternoon.

Don MacMillan had several good stops throughout the game. The stop against Andy Matheson's header being one of them.
The back three of Graeme Reid, Gordon Robertson and Andrew MacLeod seemed hard to break down despite a number of Huntly attacks.
The Experienced Martin Gunn was the main creator in the midfield and came close with some early chances.
Craig Gunn seems to be one of the rising stars this season and given space and time on the ball he can threaten most defences. Took his goal well and almost had a carbon copy midway through the first half.

Total shots on goal: 12 Shots on target: 10 Goals: 2

OFFICIALS:
I wasn't too keen on Referee Billy Baxter's performance earlier in the season against Rothes where he an his assistants seemed to go with the shouts of the home bench. The match produced two bookings - Richard Craig for dissent at a free kick and Gordon Farmer who got booked at half time after the ref said Farmer had said too much.
He may only be in his first season as a HFL Referee but need to improve a bit.

Total Fouls Awarded: 38 Wick: 22 Huntly: 16

TEAM ANALYSIS:
Barry had some good saves during the course of the match tipping over Martin Gunn's early effort and another when Craig Gunn went on a solo.
Defensively, it could've been a bit better at the goals.
Credit to Alan Stephen I thought he was one of the better players at the back. Did well to stay with C Gunn as went on that run for the second goal but Barry could only parry the initial effort.
Andy Matheson seemed to threaten the opposition down the right hand side until being replaced by Graham Green.
Had Guildy not missed that sitter it could've changed the game. Jerry's goal took a deflection as it went in but we need to be taking the chances we create.
When we did threaten Don MacMillan did well to deny any chances.
Total shots on goal: 13. On Target: 7 Goals: 1.