Fort William hit for six by Wick

Four second-half goals gave Wick Academy an emphatic win over league strugglers Fort William.

With the Fort travelling to Caithness with just one named substitute, it was always going to be a tough afternoon for the Lochaber club who remain on negative points this season after their nine-point deduction earlier this season.

Fort William started the match with gusto, typified by the captain getting booked after just 23 seconds.

Academy began to exert their influence on proceedings though and got the ball into the net but Gordon Macnab’s effort was ruled offside.

Fort goalkeeper Mateusz Kulbacki was then called into action, pulling off a couple of great saves after 15 minutes before spectacularly saving Joe Steven’s effort a few minutes later.

Wick finally got the breakthrough after 30 minutes from a Gary Manson penalty after Sam MacKay was fouled in area by Jordan Morrison. With Fort still reeling from conceding the first goal, Wick got a quick second for the Scorries when Andrew Hardwick back-heeled a loose ball into the Fort net.

Just before the half time break, Kulbacki saved Fort William again, this time denying David Allan who continued to rampage forward.

With the score at 2-0 the Fort would perhaps be the more content team at half time and were fending off the waves of Wick attacks well.

However, just 10 minutes into the second half, Hardwick scored his second and Academy’s third. With just over an hour gone, Wick got their fourth after Davie Allan set up Joe Steven to effectively put the game to bed.

After Jack Halliday was hauled down in the Fort box in the 70th minute, Wick were awarded a second pen- alty. Hardwick stepped up and dispatched the spot kick to secure his hat-trick and Academy’s fifth.

The Fort endeavoured to make their own breakthrough but it never came, despite the efforts of John Treasurer and Joshua Knowles up front.

David Allan finished off the scoring for Wick on the 77th minute after netting from an Alan Hughes cross to make it six for the home side.

The win leaves Fort William adrift at the foot of the table on minus eight points, while Academy move up to eighth.

The Fort were in action last night (Wednesday) before the Lochaber Times went to press and will play Huntly at home at Claggan Park this Saturday.