Wick Academy moved up to eighth in the Breedon Highland League table with a 2-0 win against Lossiemouth at Harmsworth Park.
A Ross Archibald own goal and David Allan’s strike gave the Scorries their fifth win in six league fixtures.
Player-manager Gary Manson said: “It was very scrappy, pitches at this time of year cut up, so it wasn’t a game for the purists.
“It was a battle and a game where you try to grind out the result.
“We had a big crowd there and we always get decent crowds at this time of year and I felt a wee bit sorry we didn’t put on a better show for them in terms of quality.
“We created three or four good chances and you couldn’t fault the endeavour of the boys. Overall I’m pleased.
“It’s five wins in six games with three clean sheets in that run. It keeps our momentum going and hopefully we can keep it going at Turriff next Monday.”
41 minutes – goal for Wick Academy, own goal. Wafc 1 Lfc 0. pic.twitter.com/urvoevXtgq
— Wick Academy FC (@WickAcademyFC) December 27, 2021
Academy took the lead shortly before half-time when Archibald turned a Sean Campbell cross into his own net.
At 1-0 the Coasters were still in the contest and they had a penalty appeal turned down when Harry Allen was tripped as referee Billy Baxter ruled the foul was outside the area.
In stoppage time Allan made the points safe when he raced through on goal before beating Logan Ross with a neat finish.
Lossie disappointed
Lossiemouth boss Joe Russell said: “It wasn’t the outcome we were looking for. I felt we were maybe deserving of a draw, but it didn’t happen.
“We didn’t create enough chances, but we had a bit of territory and I felt a draw would have been fair.
“We had the shout for the penalty which everyone apart from the referee seemed to think was inside the box – even the Wick bench said it was inside the box.
“That’s the way it goes and sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. It was quite an even match and I’m gutted we didn’t get anything from it.”