Cans leave fightback too late

Wick Academy 3 Forres Mechanics 2

Despite falling to their second defeat in successive games for the first time this season there were mixed emotions in the Mechanics camp with manager Charlie Rowley seeing a number of reasons to be optimistic at the end of the match.

Having gone 3-0 down the Can Cans reacted well to very nearly come back and gain a point on a day where the result at Rainbow Taxis Park (Cove 2 Keith 2) softened the blow of the loss at Wick.

Looking firstly at the positives Rowley took heart from the second half display. “We were like two different teams as we were far better in the second half. We can put that down to the change of shape or whatever you like but in the first half our ball retention was pretty abysmal and that is why we were 2-0 down.

“We pushed on and changed to a 4-4-2, playing more directly in the second half and the reaction was definitely the pleasing factor in the game, however we are look looking for a reaction in games, we want to be going ahead.”

The manager pointed to the loss of the early goal and challenged the defence to get back on track in the coming games. “Yet again we conceded an early goal, this time in 55 seconds, so we will be speaking about that at length on Tuesday. Whether it is a lack of concentration or just a coincidence we have to get it sorted out.”

“We conceded 13 goals in our first 20 games and now we have conceded 7 in the last two so the defenders are aware that they have to step it up once again. We are having to chase things and opening up which hasn’t been the case previously.”

Having said that the optimism returned when looking at the attacking threat his team have been posing, “If you take the two games against Huntly and Wick and focus on our attacking then we have been creating a lot more chances than we ever had, but we cant afford to be two goals behind at the time.

“We are posing a real threat and that is pleasing. Steven (Ross) has came in and Willie Barron has been a real threat in the wide area although he missed Saturday so maybe there is a wee wind of change coming for us.”

For the second week in a row Forres conceded an early goal that put them on the back foot. Wick left back Gary Manson delivered a cross in from the left which was converted by Davie Allan for his fourteenth goal of the season. One minute on the clock and Forres were already up against it.

Wick had their tails up and the Mechanics were struggling to get a grip of the game throughout the first half. Craig Shearer was a whisker away from making it 2-0 when the veteran midfielder rattled in a shot from the edge of the box that was deflected and came back off the post into the welcoming arms of Stuart Knight.

Just when it seemed the visitors were about to ride out the storm and go in to the break a goal down the Scorries struck with a second. Craig Shearer was the architect with a pass through to Sam Mackay and he placed the ball across Stuart Knight and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The Mechanics introduced Matty Davidson for Garry Tweedie at half time and moved Kyle Scott up top to move from the 4-1-4-1 formation into the traditional 4-4-2 and the impact was a marked one as they began to take the game to their opponents.

Unfortunately this didn’t stop Wick from hitting a third with a long ball from Grant Steven finding Sam Mackay who scampered into the inside right channel and slid the ball under Stuart Knight as the keeper looked to narrow the angle.

It was an uphill task for Forres but they gave it their best shot and played as well as they have since the victory over Lossiemouth. They pulled one back halfway through the half when Graham Fraser’s run down the right saw him pick out Matty Davidson and he fed it into the path of Kyle Scott who, from the inside right channel, drilled a low shot past Michael Gray.

The game had opened up now and Wick were continuing to create chances on the break with Richard Macadie twice breaking free only to be denied by Stuart Knight. At the other end it was the pace of Davidson that was causing the home team problems and twice the former Forres Thistle striker ran in behind the Wick defence but on form goalkeeper Michael Gray stood up well to deny him in the one-on-one situations.

There was still hope. Simon Allan tried his luck from range, but was well off target, but midfielder Ross Macpherson paid heed to that effort and made it 3-2 with three minutes to go with a wonderful 25 yard effort that flew into the bottom corner of the net.

The game was well and truly on and Forres began to bombard the Wick goal. A Simon Allan corner was met by Nathan Sharp but his header was cleared off the line by Sam Mackay as the game went into injury time. Yet again a corner from Allan was met by Sharp, this time he placed his effort a little higher and was unfortunate to see it come back off the bar. It just wasn’t to be.

Externally this result will have been taken as a big blow to Forres’ hopes but with Cove and Keith sharing the spoils there was little impact on the top of the table and the second half performance playing with a 4-4-2 lead by Kyle Scott and Matty Davidson up front with Steven Ross coming into the wide area to make his debut offered enough to suggest that Forres are ready to get back on track.

Wick Academy: M Gray, M Steven, G Manson, A Farquhar, G Steven, C Shearer, S Cunningham (S Ross 75), S Mackay, D Allan, R Macadie (G Weir 82), R Allan Subs: S Sinclair, J Mackay, A Bokas

Scorers: D Allan (1), S Mackay (43, 53)

Booked: R Allan (69), G Manson (90), S Ross (90), Sent Off: -

Forres Mechanics: S Knight, G Fraser, S Allan, G Grant, N Sharp, R Macpherson, N Whyte (S Moore 82), K Duguid, G Tweedie (M Davidson 46), K Scott, G McNab (S Ross 66) Subs: R Green, F Bremner

Scorers: K Scott (66), R Macpherson (87)

Booked: R Macpherson (56), M Davidson (83), K Duguid (90), S Knight (90) Sent Off: -

Referee: Billy Baxter

Gazette Gold Star: Ross Macpherson played a captains part in trying to drag the Mechanics back into the game, revelling in the great responsibility of having a man less in the middle of the park after the break and scoring an excellent goal.

Meanwhile there was positive news with regards striker Garry Tweedie, who makes the move to RAF Leuchars next weekend. While it has been known for five months that the forward was set to switch airbases Rowley is delighted to confirm that this will not mean the end of his involvement this term.

He revealed exclusively to the Gazette, “Tweedie has made himself available if and when needed. Obviously midweek games are going to be an issue due to the travelling and work commitments but he will be available for most of the Saturdays unless there are any unforeseen circumstances.”

“I have a call from Willie Gardiner at Kelty (Juniors) and they were keen to sign him if he was moving to the area so we will be able to make arrangements with regards training over the remainder of the season so it is a boost.

“Although he was disappointed with Saturday we know those things happen in football and from my perspective it is a real boost because the more quality players we have available the better.”

The former Morton and Elgin City striker had initially been set to make the switch in March but that was brought forward a month an although he will miss this weekend’s home game against Formartine Tweedie is expected to be available for the trip to Cove on March 3rd.