Fort are undone by three quick-fire second half goals
Three goals in seven secondhalf minutes proved just enough for mid-table Wick Academy to beat Fort William on Saturday after the home side put in a dogged defensive display at Claggan Park in the league cup.
Despite the score being goalless at half-time, the Fort defence got caught in the headlights as Wick scored three goals in less than 10 minutes to secure the win, although the eighth-placed side were made to work for their cup win.
It was Academy who had most of the early possession and displayed some nice linking play. They managed two early shots on goal but Fort ’keeper Kulbacki was able to hold them easily.
After 25 minutes, Fort William engineered a chance of their own as a poor Wick clearance found Gary Carroll, whose shot from distance forced a save from the keeper.
With a few minutes to go before the break, Wick’s Gary Manson had a chance to open the scoring but his effort was straight at the keeper once again.
With the scores level at halftime, the Fort were gaining confidence and remained hopeful of grabbing a result.
Wick began to turn the screw, however, and chances came as Jack Halliday and Davie Allan tried again to beat Kulbacki, but were unable to do so.
As the game ebbed and flowed, Sean Grant worked the ball into some space on the edge of the box but his shot didn’t trouble the Wick goalkeeper.
Just after the hour mark, the breakthrough finally came and it was Halliday who got it for the visitors and within just five minutes, Wick’s lead was doubled by a Richard Macadie effort and in a flash the Fort’s hopes were dashed. Still reeling, the home side were unable to stop Davie Allan from finally getting on the scoresheet and roundoff the three-goal spree for Academy.
As the Fort tired under the Claggan floodlights, Wick were able to hold on to their clean sheet and secure progress to the next round.
Fort William can look forward to a match against a resurgent Rothes side this Saturday at Claggan Park with a 2pm kick-off.