Forres Mechanics 1 Keith 2: Cans punished for missed chances as they let lead slip versus Maroons

FORRES Mechanics were punished for a series of missed chances as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at home to Keith on Saturday.

The Can-Cans were well in the ascendency in the first half and deservedly led through Ben Barron's glancing header on 28 minutes.

The only disappointing factor was the finishing – with Forres having had more than enough chances to move out of sight before the break.

And the Maroons stunned the Cans with an impressive counter-attacking performance in the second period to nab all three points thanks to Przemyslaw Nawrocki's double.

Manager Steven MacDonald wasn't too hard on his players – who have started the season in impressive fashion – but did note that a few "went hiding and felt sorry for themselves" after conceding.

"It's really disappointing to lose the game after being in total control at half-time," he said. "We couldn't quite get another goal despite having chances and got caught with a couple of sucker punches.

"They seemed to panic a bit after that and didn't do enough. It was the same as the Lossiemouth game – we didn't handle going behind well.

"The boys have done so well so far but that's something we have to work on and learn from because too many went hiding when we were needing them in the second half, and they were feeling sorry for themselves.

"It was a game we were in total control of and have thrown away."

Forres were on top right from the off and Jack Grant hit the bar after just 45 seconds with a dipping 20-yard effort.

Ryan MacLeman's cross was almost turned into his own net by Nizam Abdulkarim after three minutes, and Craig Mackenzie failed to keep his effort down from 10 yards on eight minutes after good work from Ethan Cairns.

Mackenzie – recently signed from Strathspey Thistle – saw another effort blocked after a quarter of an hour, before Cairns' shot was blocked behind.

Forres eventually took a well-deserved lead on 28 minutes through Ben Barron – who guided Martin Groat's pin-point cross into the corner with a delicate header.

Keith had a couple of chances before the break, with Kieran Mooney and Przemyslaw Nawrocki – who came on for the injured Nathan McKeown – seeing shots easily saved by Forres keeper Robert Donaldson.

Forres had chances to double their advantage right after half-time, most notably when Ethan Cairns drilled cross just evaded Ben Barron's outstretched leg.

But the game completely changed on 51 minutes when Przemyslaw Nawrocki fired home on the half volley to level the scores at 1-1.

Keith gained confidence, while Forres heads seemed to drop, and it was 2-1 to the Maroons just eight minutes later when Luke Emmett's cross was met by the head of Nawrocki to give the Pole his second of the afternoon.

The visitors looked dangerous every time they went forward and could have made it three but Joey Wilson fired tamely into the side-netting on 67 minutes, before Nawrocki had a tame effort at securing his hat-trick.

Substitute Shaun Morrison fired inches wide for Forres with almost his first touch – but again Keith threatened on the counter and Donaldson did really well to keep out Matty Tough with five minutes to play.

Forres went close twice in stoppage time – first when Andy Skinner curled just over from 20 yards and then when Dale Wood's clipped cross evaded Lee Fraser and Shaun Morrison by a matter of inches.

The Can-Cans travel to Turriff United on Saturday, with the hosts looking to bounce back from a 6-1 loss at Rothes.