Forres Mechanics 0 Brora Rangers 8: Can-Cans hammered by title-chasing Cattachs

FORRES Mechanics suffered their heaviest defeat of the season as they were crushed 8-0 by Brora Rangers at Mosset Park last night.

Hat-tricks in either half from Max Ewan and former Cans favourite Andy Macrae helped Brora on their way to an emphatic win, with Dale Gillespie and Jordan Macrae rounding off the scoring.

With a high-priority Highland League Cup semi-final against Buckie Thistle at home on Saturday, the hope for Forres manager Steven MacDonald was to get through the Brora match with no injuries and recently-gained confidence intact.

However, an 8-0 thumping has left Mechanics licking their wounds ahead of the visit of Buckie, who have won 17 successive league matches.

MacDonald said: "It was on our mind that we had a weakened side, but what we wanted to avoid at all costs was a hammering and we couldn't do that. It's disappointing.

"Brora were streets ahead of us. They were really, really good and it's a lesson for a lot of our young boys.

"We have got to learn from that and try not let it get to us ahead of Saturday.

"We emphasised before the game that we were trying to keep spirits high no matter what the result, but it's raw right now."

Brora threatened early on as Tom Kelly's curling effort came back off the left-hand post before 10 minutes had been played.

The visitors were ahead on 12 minutes through Max Ewan, who rattled in a rebound after good work from Lee Herbert in goal.

Ewan poked home his second on 21 minutes after a deflected Jordan Macrae shot fell his way.

It was 3-0 before the half hour as a debatable penalty was awarded against Jack Craib, with Dale Gillespie calmly slotting home.

Gillespie turned provider to set up Ewan for his third before half-time as his precise through ball was finished off by the former Nairn winger for 4-0 at half-time.

Forres were limited to just two long-range efforts from Allan Macphee in the first half.

The scoring didn't relent after half-time, with Andy Macrae bagging the first of quickfire hat-trick on 48 minutes after a mistake from Lee Herbert.

Macrae tapped home his second five minutes after a low ball in from the left, and his third on 57 minutes as he turned in ex-Elgin City midfielder Tony Dingwall's cross for 7-0.

Lee Herbert in the Forres goal saved well from Jordan and Andy Macrae either side of the hour mark, but he had no chance with the former's close range header on 63 minutes.

Graham Fraser limped off late on, with twin brother Lee filling in at centre-half for the latter stages.

Forres went close to a minor consolation late on as Ben Barron's pass was drilled wide by Macphee.

MacDonald's side should have four or five players returning for Saturday's cup semi-final against Buckie – with the team more likely to look like the one that beat Inverurie 1-0 at the weekend.

Captain Martin Groat, top scorer Paul Brindle and winger Callum Johnston, all of whom played on Saturday but missed Wednesday, will return – along with Kane Davies who is back after a bout of Covid.

Joe Gauld and Tom Brady are touch and go, with Ruari Fraser and Jack Grant expected to miss out.