Forres Mechanics hammer Elgin kids to start season
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FORRES Mechanics smashed Elgin City’s under 20s 11-2 on Wednesday night in the North of Scotland Cup – but manager Charlie Rowley warned they must improve if they are to win their season opener at Rothes on Saturday.
Identical back-post headers from Stuart Soane and Graham Fraser made it 2-0 after seven minutes at Mosset Park.
Martin Groat made it 3-0 before a neat goal from Allan Macphee was followed up by a cracking 20 yard effort from James Ross for 5-0.
Elgin pulled two goals back either side of half-time through Kyle Willis, but Mechanics went on to thrash their young opponents.
Andy Macrae scored a delicate volley before Duncanson squeezed a free-kick in for 7-0.
Joe Gauld grabbed a goal before an error from keeper Oliver Kelly allowed Martin Groat to tap in the ninth.
Simon Allan made it ten with a crossed free-kick which drifted in and Fraser’s second header finished the rout off at 11-2.
The ruthlessness on show from Mechanics was taken from the first game of the season – when Ross County won 11-0 at Mosset Park.
Manager Charlie Rowley said: “We shouldn’t forget we were on the end of a similar scoreline a few weeks ago, so we are not looking too much into it.
“I used the Ross County thing many times. They were exemplary in their professionalism and, although it was a friendly, had no sympathy for us. We needed to show the same and that was out of respect to Elgin.
“We got what we deserved but I think it’s because we respected them in the way we went about our business.”
But Rowley says improvement will be needed if Mechanics are to get their Highland League campaign off to a positive start.
He added: “I asked us to be clinical tonight – I think we got that. There was a couple of sloppy moments I felt we could tidy up on but it was a good run out.
“We’re looking forward to Saturday. I think we’ll have to improve in most departments if we are going to get a result and I’ve made them aware of that.”
Forres will face Inverness' Colts, who beat Lossiemouth 3-1 last night, in the next round.
