Forres Mechanics 0 Keith 0: Plenty chances but no goals in draw
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FORRES Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley described Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Keith as “a bit like a basketball game”.
Despite the lack of goals, the match flowed from end to end, with tons of chances for both and very little play in the midfield.
However, a mixture poor finishing and good goalkeeping ensured a stalemate.
Keith had the first big chance on 20 minutes as Tom Andrews did superbly on the right before teeing up Michael Selfridge who sliced wide.
Paul Brindle fired at Keith keeper Craig Reid, forcing him into a decent save on the stroke of half-time.
The majority of opportunities came in an open second half, with Stuart Soane heading just wide after the 50-minute mark.
Brindle had the Cans’ best chance of the afternoon two minutes later, doing superbly to escape two defenders and round the keeper before getting the ball trapped in his feet and failing to net.
Forres keeper Stuart Knight did well to deny Przemyslaw Nawrocki on the hour, with Luke Emmett knocking the rebound over, before the Polish striker hit the post from a tight angle 10 minutes later.
Lee Fraser headed over at close range on 78 minutes, a minute before Soane’s 30-yard strike clipped the top of the crossbar.
Keith had two big chances to win it with a goal-saving tackle from Graham Fraser denying Michael Ironside on 83 minutes before Knight superbly denied Emmett a minute after.
The last chance fell to Forres in stoppage time as Lee Fraser pounced on a misplaced pass in the box but his shot was tame and saved by Keith keeper Craig Reid.
Rowley said: “We are never happy with a draw at home. We conceded chances but we had plenty ourselves.
"It's the way things are going just now – you won't win games if you don't put the ball in the net. I’m not saying we deserved to win the game but we certainly had chances to.
"It felt a wee bit like a basketball game at times – we went up the park then Keith tried to. From a manager’s point of view it wasn’t ideal, but it was a clean sheet which is always a positive.
"Still, the most important area is goal scoring and couldn't add to our tally."
Forres are in league action again when they travel to Victoria Park to take on Buckie Thistle on Wednesday night.
The Jags are fifth in the Highland League with 16 points from nine games.
Rowley added: "It doesn't get any easier but we dust ourselves down and try to go again.
"We will work on the areas we're struggling in just now which is with confidence levels and goal scoring aspect. I'm sure it'll come."
Deveronvale are visitors to Mosset Park on Saturday afternoon.
