Cans boss happy to wait for season start
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FORRES Mechanics’ manager Charlie Rowley isn’t too disappointed the fixture generators have thrown his side a free week to start the Highland League season.
Mechanics will be idle while the league’s remaining 16 teams get going on Saturday. Nobody replacing Cove Rangers after their promotion has left the league a team down on the usual 18, meaning one side is left out each match day.
But this free week has advantages, including a longer pre-season. Rowley said: “I would rather have this than play the first week and have the second week off because then you are just stop-start.
“We are going to train three times this midweek and give them the weekend off. We’ll be back in on Monday to prepare for the Elgin City game (in the North of Scotland Cup) next Wednesday.”
Rowley was speaking after Mechanics beat Bridge of Don Thistle 4-2 at Mosset Park on Saturday.
The Aberdeenshire side finished second in the North Superleague last season and smashed Buckie Thistle 7-4 away from home on Thursday.
The Cans’ boss said: “It was exactly what we expected. They were close contenders to champions Banks O’ Dee in the Superleague last year and have aspirations of winning the league.
“We were under no illusions as to how good they were. They had come off a great win at Buckie during the week and were at one point 6-1 up there. All in all I’m really pleased with the workout.”
Stuart Soane limped off with a hamstring injury, while Ross MacPherson is set to join Ryan Farquhar as a long term absentee.
Rowley added: “Ross is going to get assessed. He says it feels like the same sort of injury in his cartilage. Fingers crossed it’s not that.
“Ryan depends on the diagnosis. If he needs a clean up of the cartilage it could be the rest of the season.”
