Forres Can Can have a day off

FORRES Mechanics were handed a bye into the second round of the AJG Parcels North of Scotland Cup.

That means Mechanics will avoid a cup encounter prior to the start of the league campaign on August 3.

Forres will host the winner of the Rothes v Lossiemouth first round tie. Manager Charlie Rowley was pleased with the way the draw worked out for the Can-Cans.

He said: “We normally start the North of Scotland Cup before the league season starts. Previously we’ve had Fort William and Lossiemouth in the first round.

“But I’m not too displeased to get a bye if I’m being honest. We have a couple of guys just back from holiday this week, guys who coming back wouldn’t have been 100% fit for the first round.

“It’s one game less to worry about in getting a full strength side together.

“In the second round game it will be extremely difficult whoever wins the tie. In the early part of the season there is an extra impetus in terms of starting the season. There is more of a level playing field given the season is not up and running, early season games are always very difficult.

“But it will give us the chance to watch the first round cup tie.”

The Can-Cans began pre-season training on Tuesday, and Rowley was pleased with his players’ fitness. Former Clachnacuddin and Inverness City player Paul Smith is currently training with the side, and Rowley is also awaiting response from two players he hopes to bring in.

He added: “We will have an answer from one of them this week as he comes back from holiday. The second player we probably won’t hear back from until the second week in July.

“Tuesday was fine, everyone apart from two were fit and available. Craig McGovern was on holiday and Scott Lawrie was on a night shifts. But both are back this week, they were the only two absentees. The guys as expected came back in good shape, they hit the ground running fitness wise. It’s just a matter of progressing things, and stepping up the work.

“When players come back in pre-season it’s normally a long slog. But we have an early game a week on Saturday against Ross County, which gives us something to look forward to in the not too distant future. We’ve had the ball involved in the early stages of training.

“The dynamics of pre-season training are changing all the time, the guys are doing six or seven mile runs, but we’re also getting the ball involved, and they’ve adapted really well. The level of fitness will be extremely high, which gives us something to look forward to.”

“Paul Smith is in on trial, he’s been playing with Inverness City and used to be at Clach. He’s a left sided player. I’m pretty much happy with what we’ve got, obviously I would ideally like to bring a couple of guys in but if we don’t manage to do that I’ll be happy with my squad.”