Ethan Cairns' return provides boost for Forres Mechanics before 2-1 loss to Deveronvale

THE return of Inverness Caledonian Thistle loanee Ethan Cairns has provided a rare glimmer of light in an otherwise difficult period for Forres Mechanics.

Cairns was with the Can-Cans at the beginning of the campaign, scoring four times in 18 matches before being recalled by parent club Caley Thistle due to an injury crisis.

Back in the Forres squad on Saturday, the teenager couldn’t help his side to a win at Deveronvale – with the Cans going down to a 2-1 defeat at Princess Royal Park.

Ross County loanee Ryan MacLeman opened the scoring for Forres shortly after half-time, but goals from Innes MacKay and Horace Ormsby saw the home side pick up all three points.

Assistant manager Stephen Maclean lamented his side’s finishing, and ability to kill the game off.

“We had about four one-on-ones in the first half but couldn’t score,” he said.

“We talked to the boys at half-time about being ruthless and when Ryan scored we thought the message had definitely got across.

“However, we had opportunities to kill the game at 1-0 and we didn’t.

“If we had scored to make it 2-0 I think we would have gone on to win comfortably, but we let them back into it.

“Even last 10 minutes we had more chances to score but couldn’t take them.”

Forres are now 10 matches without victory, dating back to an 8-1 success over bottom club Strathspey Thistle at Mosset Park on January 7.

Three games are left to play for the Cans in the Highland League, with Saturday’s Moray derby against Keith at Kynoch Park first up.

The Maroons are winless in 2023 and Mechanics were victorious in the cup at Keith earlier in the campaign.

“When we beat Deveronvale and Huntly earlier in the season, we scored two or three goals in a five-minute burst,” Maclean said. “We were hitting teams quickly and they were out of the game before they could react.

“We need to get back to doing that, and that will be the message against Keith.

“We need to be positive in our approach, both mentally and in terms of taking the game to them and playing football in their third of the pitch.”

The return of Cairns – albeit only for four matches – will no doubt provide a boost for Mechanics.

Alongside Connall Ewan and Ryan MacLeman, his loan at Mosset Park has been a success, and Maclean hopes that will help Forres in the future.

“Ethan carries the ball forward for us well,” he said.

“He was so important for us between October and January, when he went back to Caley Thistle.

“We can offer loan players time on the park that other clubs can’t, and we hope that helps us going forward.

“Ryan and Connall have only missed two games between them this season – through suspension and injury.

"It’s not all us, they have great attitudes themselves, but Steven (MacDonald, manager) has thrown them in, given them the chance and they have taken it.”