Forres Mechanics 0 Brechin City 1: Much-improved Cans beaten late on

MUCH that has been missing for Forres Mechanics of late returned on Saturday – with plenty bravery and fighting spirit on display in an agonising 1-0 defeat against Brechin City at Mosset Park.

The one thing that remained amiss was a touch of luck as the Cans went down to a second last-minute defeat in succession thanks to a fortunate 92nd minute winner from former Inverness Caley Thistle defender Kevin McHattie.

With the clock ticking down, and Steven Macdonald en route to a hard-fought point in his maiden game in charge, Brechin were awarded a free-kick and McHattie's hooked effort found its way in via the bar.

Assistant manager Brian Macleod said the performance was "excellent" and the manner of the defeat very hard to take.

"We are really disappointed with the result but certainly not with the effort and the application of the boys, who were excellent," he said.

"We are really disappointed to lose it at the end. It's the second game we have lost at the end so it's another one that's hard to take.

"In my eyes, it was a poor decision to give the free-kick – it wasn't a foul and for the referee to give that against us, at that stage of the game and in that position, was a poor one.

"Then the boy has just taken a swing at it and it has dropped in the net so it's disappointing."

Forres were forced into an early change after an ugly moment for midfielder Jack Grant on 20 minutes as a Brechin elbow removed his front teeth. He was replaced by Owen Paterson.

The first major chance for either side came after 25 minutes when Brechin's Michael Cruickshank fired a Murray MacKintosh cross over the top from six yards.

Dale Wood, playing left-back, had to be alert on the half hour mark to clear a MacKintosh header off the line.

New signing Kane Davies hit Forres' first shot on target just before the break, but his 20-yard effort was easily held by Jack Willis.

Five minutes after half-time, Mechanics went a yard away from the lead as Paul Brindle's sweet first-time hit flew just wide of the far post.

Brechin defender Hamish Thomson headed a free-kick inches wide just after the hour mark as the visitors turned up the heat.

It was Mechanics who should have gone ahead on 67 minutes, though, when the ball broke to Lee Fraser in the box, but he couldn't curl the ball around Willis from eight yards.

Brechin chucked everything they had on the bench at Forres – including Julian Wade, the Dominican Republic's all-time top scorer, and experienced SPFL forward David Cox.

But Mechanics continued to hold firm, with Lee Herbert somehow keeping out Cox's close range poke towards goal with five to play.

The on-loan keeper then made a stunning save from a Jamie Bain free-kick with just seconds of the 90 minutes left and it seemed as if Forres would hold out.

But, two minutes into stoppage time, a lofted free-kick into the box was hooked goalwards by former Hearts and Inverness defender Kevin McHattie and found its way past a helpless Herbert and in off the bar.

Lee Fraser was sent off during an post-match altercation as tempers flared, meaning he will miss Saturday's trip to Keith.

"That was a step in the right direction, but we need to start putting points on the board," Macleod added.

"From a performance point of view the boys should take confidence from the match.

"Hopefully next week if we play like that and take one or two chances that come our way we should be OK."