Wick under pressure but McCarthy hot for Talbot test

Goalkeeper Sean McCarthy knows his Wick Academy team-mates will start as massive underdogs in Saturday’s home Scottish Cup first-round tie against leading Ayrshire junior side Auchinleck Talbot.

The reigning Scottish Junior Cup holders head for Harmsworth Park this weekend to face an Academy outfit low on confidence after back-to-back Highland League defeats by Rothes and Buckie Thistle.

The 25-year-old keeper said: “We’ve always got a chance on home soil at Harmsworth Park, espe- cially when you consider the distance our opponents are going to have to travel this weekend.

“I will admit we have been going through an inconsistent patch in recent weeks after our superb 3-2 win at Fraserburgh earlier this month.

“But this is the ideal opportunity for us to put it right as we are all bitterly disappointed with our last two results.

“To lose 3-1 at home against a much-improved Rothes side then go down 5-2 at Buckie Thistle last weekend isn’t very nice. We all want to put matters right in the big cup tie this weekend.

“We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“No one expects us to win, so we should just go out there and go for it straight from the kick-off.

“All we can do is give it our best on the day.

“It would be a magnificent achievement if we were to get through to the next round. That is all we are focused on.”

McCarthy feels Wick can take confidence from this month’s unexpected victory at Fraserburgh.

He added: “Not many teams will go to Bellslea Park and come away with all three points this season.

“If we can recapture that sort of form we’ll have a chance.

“We have also beaten Formartine United away from home this term.

“No one can put their finger on why we are so inconsistent but I think all we need is a wee bit of self-belief.

“We have a young squad and the players are possibly still trying to find their feet and the best way of playing but we will find it soon, I’m sure of that.

“The Scottish Cup has a magic all of its own.

NOTHING TO LOSE: Underdogs tag won’t bother Sean McCarthy as Wick play host