Forres Mechanics 1 Wick Academy 1: Late goal denies Cans win on return
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FORRES Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley was “reasonably pleased” with his side’s opening day draw with Wick Academy at Mosset Park, despite the disappointment of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.
Rowley admitted that the 1-1 draw was as much as Mechanics could have hoped, given the performance of the two sides, and praised the visitors.
He said: “A draw was as much as we could have expected. First half in particular, I felt we were off it. But overall we are reasonably pleased. It’s not a defeat and it was a tough game between two even sides.
“As much as it’s really frustrating and disappointing to concede late on, Wick thoroughly deserved to get something out of the game.
“We are disappointed in one breath, but realistic and reasonably happy in the other.”
Mechanics were making their return to Highland League action after 500 days away, but it was Wick who started the brighter, with Jack Grant forced to make a goal-saving block after just two minutes,before Steven Anderson headed just wide.
Gordon MacNab also went close for the visitors on 20 minutes but was denied by the on-form Stuart Knight.
Knight was back in action five minutes before the break as he again showed his quality to keep out Alan Farquhar’s header with a strong arm.
Despite plenty of Wick pressure, it was Mechanics who led 1-0 at the break after Lee Fraser took the Cans’ only real chance of the first period.
A Robbie Duncanson cross was poorly cleared and Fraser’s shot squirmed through Academy goalkeeper Graeme Williamson and in.
Fraser was at it again at the start of the second half, this time his sweetly-struck volley inched over the bar.
But on 56 minutes, Knight had to come to Forres’ rescue again – this time bailing out Martin Groat after his sliced clearance threatened his own goal.
As the game entered the dying stages, it seemed that Mechanics had a semblance of control for the first time.
But Wick got their equaliser when it was least expected – with Jack Halliday bursting through the middle of the Mechanics defence and slotting neatly past Knight in the 92nd minute.
With four minutes stoppage time still to be played, substitute Callum Johnston went agonisingly close to scoring the winner for Forres – but his well-hit effort was kept out by a superb Williamson save to ensure the game ended level.
All eyes now turn to tomorrow’s North of Scotland Cup first round clash with Rothes at Mosset Park, with the winner to face Elgin City in the quarter finals.
Rowley said: “One of the top half teams are going to be going out of the competition early, but you have got to beat them all to win it. We are looking forward to it but we realise it’s going to be a big ask for us to progress.”
Mechanics return to league action with a trip to Formartine United on Saturday.
