Forres Mechanics 0 Buckie Thistle 2: Fighting Forres out of Highland League Cup at semi-final stage

FORRES Mechanics were knocked out of the Highland League Cup at the semi-final stage after a 2-0 loss to Buckie Thistle on Saturday.

After wins over Turriff United and Clachnacuddin at Mosset Park, high-flying Buckie proved to be a step too far for the Cans.

Goals from Sam Urquhart on five minutes and Jack Murray in the 89th minute sealed a hard-fought win for the visitors.

But Forres manager Steven MacDonald was pleased by his side's battling performance against a team that went into the game off the back of 17 straight league wins.

"I couldn't have really asked for any more," he said. "We just weren't quite good enough to get something but I was pleased with the effort from the boys.

"We competed really well and I didn't think there was miles between the teams.

"I'm pleased with the attitude and spirit, once you've got that it's half the battle. We have to work on the quality but we gave it everything.

"I can see a lot of encouragement for the future – this gets the Brora result out the system."

After losing 8-0 to Brora Rangers on Wednesday night, there was a worry that Forres' confidence would be badly hit going into the semi-final.

Those worries were exasperated within five minutes as Shaun Wood's long ball up the park was knocked over returning goalkeeper Stuart Knight's head by Sam Urquhart.

But Forres reacted well to that setback and were unfortunate not to equalise on 13 minutes as Graham Fraser's header from a Callum Johnston corner crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

It was 1-0 going into the break – but only thanks to a great save from Stuart Knight to keep out Lewis MacKinnon's well-hit 30-yard free-kick.

The second was an evenly-contested affair, but Forres lacked the composure and quality required in the final third.

Buckie's Kev Fraser could have made it 2-0 just after the hour mark but he fired Andy MacAskill's cross over the bar at the back post.

The visitors sealed the game – and booked a cup final tie against Brora Rangers – when Jack Murray nodded MacAskill's free-kick in at the back post.

Forres will look to return to winning ways when they host an unpredictable Fort William on Wednesday.

Fort come into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw at Formartine United on Saturday, which led to the departure of United boss Paul Lawson and his assistant Russell Anderson.

MacDonald said: "They've had a couple of poor results after looking quite promising – and then that draw with Formartine.

"It might depend what side they've got, but hopefully we can build now towards the end of the season."

Forres will have problems at centre-half as they'll be without Dale Wood, who pulled up in the Buckie match.

The game will likely come too soon for Ruari Fraser, while midfielder Jack Grant is set to get teeth implants tomorrow and will return in a couple of weeks.