Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 24, 2005 18:19:32 GMT
report from The Caithness Courier website - www.caithness-courier.co.uk
Referee cost us game, says Academy boss
WICK Academy earned their first point of the Highland League campaign when they held Clachnacuddin to a goalless draw on Saturday.
The Scorries and the Lilywhites both had chances to win the game during an entertaining 90 minutes but neither side could break the deadlock on a sweltering day at the Harmsworth Park.
Academy boss Alistair Budge believes his team should have had a penalty at the start of the second half after last season's player of the year, Craig Shearer, appeared to be fouled in the box with only the keeper to beat. However, Budge admitted a draw was probably a fair result.
Clach boss Robbie Williamson, who suggested the Wick midfielder dived, said he was disappointed not to be returning to Inverness with all three points.
Speaking after the game, Budge - who had watched the action from a vantage point in the stand - said: "I think that is the best football we have played since I've been here.
"In the first half we kept the ball really well for long stages of the game and were creating chances.
"In the second half I thought the referee probably cost us the game - I thought it was a stonewall penalty. Craig Shearer had the ball and he is not the type of player to dive."
But he added: "Even after that we pushed on. Clach are a very good and well-organised team, so all credit to my boys because three or four of them were carrying injuries.
"I thought that was a really good performance and probably a fair result."
Clach have now not beaten Wick in the league for the past three seasons.
Manager Williamson said:
"We should have won that game - I am disappointed we didn't, because we had enough chances - but credit to Wick, it's a hard place to come for a result. They worked hard and probably deserved something for their efforts.
"I can't ask for any more from my players on a very warm day."
When asked whether he thought Academy should have had a penalty, Williamson said: "The boy [Shearer] got a 5.9 from where I was standing.
He was in the air longer than it took us to get up here. Does that answer your question?"
Academy kicked off the match shooting down the slope but the best chance to open the scoring fell to Clach. On the quarter-hour mark, former Ross County and Elgin City striker Alex Bone found space on the edge of the penalty area and swivelled on the spot before striking the ball on the half-volley and forcing keeper Don MacMillan to stretch up to save.
Despite playing some flowing football, Wick failed to threaten the Clach goal in the first half and were reduced to speculative efforts.
Nearing the half-hour, influential defender David Mowat - who made his first appearance for the club since returning from Cowdenbeath - came closest when he watched his long-range shot rise over the bar.
Academy looked set to break the deadlock when they penetrated the resolute Clach defence at the start of the second period. Shearer tried to skip round Ally Ridgers after being sent through on goal but his trailing leg appeared to be caught by the onrushing keeper inside the box, although the Academy man seemed to make the most of it.
Referee Bill Baxter waved away appeals for a penalty and instead booked Shearer for diving.
Both sides had a number of chances to score and each edged closer to that elusive goal as the game went on.
Clach's Andrew Lewis had a net-bound shot headed off the line by the sponsors' man of the match Gary Manson in the 65th minute before the Lilywhites scrambled a Shearer shot off the line shortly after.
Bone had another shot deflected inches past the Wick goal, while a Martin MacGregor strike was comfortably held by the visiting keeper.
Academy captain Martin Gunn curled a cracking shot off the corner of the Clach crossbar from 25 yards with 10 minutes remaining but the match remained goalless.
Wick Academy: MacMillan, MacGregor, McCallum, Mowat, Lamb, Cowie, Gunn, Farquhar (Henderson 62), Manson, Shearer, J. MacKenzie.
Subs not used: Macleod, Coghill, Weir, S. Reid. Booked:
Manson.
Clachnacuddin: Ridgers, Neill, Douglas, MacCuish, MacLean, Morrison, Mitchell, Lewis, Bone (McCraw 76), L.
Ross (G. Ross 76), D. Ross.
Subs not used: Ritchie, Lyall, Sutherland.
Referee: B. Baxter.
Referee cost us game, says Academy boss
WICK Academy earned their first point of the Highland League campaign when they held Clachnacuddin to a goalless draw on Saturday.
The Scorries and the Lilywhites both had chances to win the game during an entertaining 90 minutes but neither side could break the deadlock on a sweltering day at the Harmsworth Park.
Academy boss Alistair Budge believes his team should have had a penalty at the start of the second half after last season's player of the year, Craig Shearer, appeared to be fouled in the box with only the keeper to beat. However, Budge admitted a draw was probably a fair result.
Clach boss Robbie Williamson, who suggested the Wick midfielder dived, said he was disappointed not to be returning to Inverness with all three points.
Speaking after the game, Budge - who had watched the action from a vantage point in the stand - said: "I think that is the best football we have played since I've been here.
"In the first half we kept the ball really well for long stages of the game and were creating chances.
"In the second half I thought the referee probably cost us the game - I thought it was a stonewall penalty. Craig Shearer had the ball and he is not the type of player to dive."
But he added: "Even after that we pushed on. Clach are a very good and well-organised team, so all credit to my boys because three or four of them were carrying injuries.
"I thought that was a really good performance and probably a fair result."
Clach have now not beaten Wick in the league for the past three seasons.
Manager Williamson said:
"We should have won that game - I am disappointed we didn't, because we had enough chances - but credit to Wick, it's a hard place to come for a result. They worked hard and probably deserved something for their efforts.
"I can't ask for any more from my players on a very warm day."
When asked whether he thought Academy should have had a penalty, Williamson said: "The boy [Shearer] got a 5.9 from where I was standing.
He was in the air longer than it took us to get up here. Does that answer your question?"
Academy kicked off the match shooting down the slope but the best chance to open the scoring fell to Clach. On the quarter-hour mark, former Ross County and Elgin City striker Alex Bone found space on the edge of the penalty area and swivelled on the spot before striking the ball on the half-volley and forcing keeper Don MacMillan to stretch up to save.
Despite playing some flowing football, Wick failed to threaten the Clach goal in the first half and were reduced to speculative efforts.
Nearing the half-hour, influential defender David Mowat - who made his first appearance for the club since returning from Cowdenbeath - came closest when he watched his long-range shot rise over the bar.
Academy looked set to break the deadlock when they penetrated the resolute Clach defence at the start of the second period. Shearer tried to skip round Ally Ridgers after being sent through on goal but his trailing leg appeared to be caught by the onrushing keeper inside the box, although the Academy man seemed to make the most of it.
Referee Bill Baxter waved away appeals for a penalty and instead booked Shearer for diving.
Both sides had a number of chances to score and each edged closer to that elusive goal as the game went on.
Clach's Andrew Lewis had a net-bound shot headed off the line by the sponsors' man of the match Gary Manson in the 65th minute before the Lilywhites scrambled a Shearer shot off the line shortly after.
Bone had another shot deflected inches past the Wick goal, while a Martin MacGregor strike was comfortably held by the visiting keeper.
Academy captain Martin Gunn curled a cracking shot off the corner of the Clach crossbar from 25 yards with 10 minutes remaining but the match remained goalless.
Wick Academy: MacMillan, MacGregor, McCallum, Mowat, Lamb, Cowie, Gunn, Farquhar (Henderson 62), Manson, Shearer, J. MacKenzie.
Subs not used: Macleod, Coghill, Weir, S. Reid. Booked:
Manson.
Clachnacuddin: Ridgers, Neill, Douglas, MacCuish, MacLean, Morrison, Mitchell, Lewis, Bone (McCraw 76), L.
Ross (G. Ross 76), D. Ross.
Subs not used: Ritchie, Lyall, Sutherland.
Referee: B. Baxter.