New Inverurie Locos manager Neil Cooper knows the size of the task he has taken on after watching his side lose at home to Wick Academy.
Cooper, who was unveiled as Scott Buchan’s successor prior to kick-off, watched his players from the stand as he let Darren Mackie and Steven Park, who had prepared the team, take charge of the game.
Academy’s win allowed them to move above Keith and Turriff United into sixth place in the table thanks to a classy double from midfielder Sam Mackay.
Locos did pull a goal back but Daniel Crisp’s goal, two minutes after substitute Marc MacGregor had put the visitors 3-0 up, was no more than a consolation.
Locos fielded Crisp in central defence alongside Englishman Ryan Broadhurst with club captain Neil McLean in his familiar role in central midfield. Wick manager Gordon Connelly was only able to list three substitutes.
Referee Liam Duncan was quickly called into action, showing yellow cards to Locos full back Stephen Jeffrey and Danny Mackay, of Academy, after a confrontation.
Wick took the lead against the run of play in the 34th minute.
The ball broke off his team-mate Gary Weir and from 25 yards midfielder Mackay gave Scott Mathieson no chance with a ferocious drive.
Locos forced a couple of corners in quick succession and from the second Academy centre Grant Steven sent the ball inches over his own crossbar on the volley for what would have been a spectacular own-goal.
Locos full back Jeffrey didn’t appear for the second half as he had pulled a hamstring which meant fellow defender Ross Anderson took his place.
Five minutes after the break Academy doubled the advantage.
Crisp brought down Steven Anderson in the box and Mackay clipped the resultant spot kick straight down the middle for his second goal of the afternoon.
Mackay was denied his hat-trick when Mathieson dived to his right to pull off a brilliant save after the Academy midfielder had played a neat one-two with Gary Weir.
With 25 minutes to go Locos threw caution to the wind by bringing on veteran forward Martin Bavidge with defender Connor Rennie making way.
However, any hopes of a home comeback were dashed in the 69th minute when Locos failed to clear a corner and Academy substitute MacGregor tucked the ball past Mathieson from six yards.
Two minutes later Locos pulled one back when Crisp bundled the ball home from virtually on the goal-line.
With five minutes remaining Locos coach Park was sent from the technical area for remarks made to referee Duncan.
