Forres Mechanics captain Mark McLauchlan motivated for Clachnacuddin North Cup final after near misses with Buckie Thistle

Forres Mechanics captain Mark McLauchlan is looking to use the “frustration and disappointment” of near trophy misses as motivation ahead of the club’s North Cup final.

Mechanics take on Clachnacuddin at Nairn County’s Station Park on Saturday (2pm kick-off) in what is their first cup final since 2011 - however, captain McLauchlan experienced many a final at Buckie Thistle.

He came out on the wrong end each time - and hopes to use that as motivation this weekend.

“Getting into the cup final has been great, it's good for the club,” he said.

“The semi-final was a tough game against our good young Caley side, so it was good to get through that.

“It's really good for the club, to be honest. They've not been in a final for a long time.

“I've actually been in two or three finals with Buckie, and unfortunately I haven't won one of them.

“I came close to the league three times as well, so that's been dwelling on me as well.

“I came away with nothing, so there's still quite a lot of disappointment there, so I'm definitely looking to put that into Saturday.”

McLauchlan missed both Forres’ 2-1 win at Strathspey Thistle on Wednesday and the 2-0 defeat at Buckie Thistle on Saturday due to being abroad for a wedding.

However, he will be back for the final. There are also hopes that top scorer Calum Frame, who missed Saturday’s defeat with a niggling injury, will be fit to play Clach.

McLauchlan added: “We've got a really good group of players. It's just about getting more consistent.

“I feel sometimes we get ourselves up for the bigger games. Clach have been having a really good season. It's going to be a hard game, but I believe in the players that we've got.

“I'm really looking forward to it. To be able to lift that trophy would definitely be memorable to me and my family, especially as club captain.

“Hopefully the Forres fans can make it and back us and see us lift the trophy.”

Forres manager Steven MacDonald said his side were “lifeless” and “never got to grips” with Buckie on Saturday.

He said he may have risked Calum Frame in the game if it wasn’t for the cup final, which he hopes the club’s top marksman will be fit for.

“We undoubtedly missed him on Saturday,” MacDonald said. “But I think the way that we played, I'm not sure whether he would have made a difference.

“It just felt that we were a bit lifeless and just really never got to grips with it.”

“It's human nature to have the cup final on your mind, isn't it? You don't want to get injured for it.

“Perhaps for Clach too, when you see their result (a 1-0 loss at home to Huntly). It's a surprise for them to get beat there.

On the final, MacDonald added: “I don't think there'll be any great masterplan.

“Our plan is making sure that we're right ourselves and we turn up. That's the biggest thing.

“For a lot of our boys, it's a new experience, but it's one that they all want. That's what you want in football, isn't it?”