Two goals in the last five minutes gave Wick Academy all three points in a dramatic finale to a wind affected encounter at Clach Park. The inspired substitution which saw Craig Shearer come on, ultimately making the difference.
Clach had the wind at their back in the first but in truth while both teams huffed and puffed they were unable to match up to the gusto of Mother Nature as the Highland Capital shivered.
Wick Academy did have the ball in the net in the 28th minute but there was little doubt that Richard Macadie was well offside when he fired home from Gary Weir's cross ball. At the other end Michael Gray pulled off a fine save to deny Martin Callum, who struck a free kick well.
There was some early signs that the second half would offer more in the way of goalmouth action when Sam Mackay brought out a fine save from Stevie Dunn just two minutes after the turnaround.
There were loud penalty claims in the 55th minute when the ball bounced up and hit Martin Callum on the hand in the penalty area but Graham Beaton waved the claims away.
At the other end Sam Urquhart's low shot forced Michael Gray into a good save, the keeper diving to prevent the former Fort man from grabbing an opener and then, in the 67th minute a Martin Callum ball across goal was crying out to be turned home but it wasn't to be.
The breakthough finally arrived in the 79th minute of the game when Allan Pollock delivered a ball into the danger area and Mark Dougal was on hand to sidefoot home from close range. Clach were in front and now little more than ten minutes away from victory.
However the arrival of Craig Shearer was to be the turning point in the game. From a corner kick the midfielder rose to head home a leveller in the 87th minute and just two minutes later Steve Cunningham took advantage of Wick's new found momentum to lob a winner over Stevie Dunn.
It is a result that lifts Wick back above Clachnacuddin in the table with the two teams in between the main pack and the group of teams at the bottom of the table.
Full Time: Clachnacuddin 1 Wick Academy 2