Highland League

Saturday 29th July 2023

Kick Off 15.00 On Time!

Banks O’Dee 4 Wick Academy 0, attendance 161

15’ 1-0

59’ 2-0

76’ 3-0

90’ + 2, 4-0

@ Spain Park

Abbotswell Road

Aberdeen

AB12 3AB

£10 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Having re-completed the Scottish League grounds four days ago, I was less than two miles away to re-complete the Highland League this afternoon. Again it was at a pretty soulless stadium with a synthetic playing surface. There is a main seated stand with just 85 seats and a couple of sections of covered standing on the opposite side. One goal end has no access at all, whilst the other only gives views through mesh fencing. Official capacity is 876. Judging by today’s crowd, it is plenty big enough for them. Well, at least if they remain in the Highland League. Very few clubs would ever bring numbers anywhere near a sell out ever occurring. Promotion might be another story altogether. Wick only had a couple of dozen supporters here, which is hardly surprising, as a chat with the away team coach driver (who’d done the Inverness to Aberdeen section) revealed that start time from Wick had been at 7.15 this morning for the 207 mile drive south. There is only their game at Brechin City that would be further than this.

This was the opening league fixture. On last season’s finishing positions this was 10th versus 16th (out of 18). The first half was pretty even and very few clear cut chances were created. The only goal went the way of the hosts after fifteen minutes, when a long range shot found the far corner. Banks O’Dee doubled their lead just before the hour mark, finishing with an angled shot into the far corner. They had a man red carded with seventeen minutes left, for an over the top tackle, but still managed to increase their lead within minutes when a cross from the right was poked in at the far post. They rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, cutting in from the right before clinically finishing left footed into the bottom corner.

Summing up the basics. Unusually, car parking at the ground was free. The tea bar was under the main stand and had the usual offerings. No match day programmes, but team sheets readily available at the turnstiles.