Can Cans' title bid on hold

FORRES Mechanics’ Press and Journal Highland League title celebrations have had to go on hold after incessant rain washed out tonight’s crucial clash with Keith.

The Mechanics started the day building up to an 8pm clash with the Maroons in front of an expected 1,000-strong home crowd looking to roar them on to their first title triumph since 1985

Three points at the expense of Keith could have had the Can-Cans doing the champagne shuffle in celebration of their first league title for 26 years but that prospect evaporated due to a waterlogged Mosset Park pitch.

But when local referee Dougie Ross carried out the lunchtime inspection in Forres, the Mechanics saw their hopes of sealing their title triumph tonight go by the board.

Meanwhile, nearest title rivals Cove Rangers’ trip to take on Nairn County tonight goes ahead, giving the Aberdeen side the chance to close the gap at the top of the table to three points if they win at Station Park.

To win the title tonight, Forres had to beat Keith with Cove, who trail the Can-Cans by six points in the league table with three games apiece to play, going down at Nairn.

Now, thanks to the weather, the title race is set to roll on into another week with Mechanics’ manager Charlie Rowley and his squad, who still need six points to get their hands on the championship trophy, facing the daunting prospect of playing their last three matches of the season in five pressure-packed days next week.

The club is now waiting to hear how league secretary John Grant intends to negotiate the last-minute fixture pile-up.

Keith travel to Wick on Saturday and Forres, who have a free Saturday this weekend already have matches scheduled at Turriff United next Wednesday and against Fraserburgh at home on Saturday May 5.

That means Forres could be asked to play their outstanding home game against Keith on Monday May 7 or Wednesday May 9.