Forres Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald says his Cans can be a match for the Highland League's leading clubs after holding champions Fraserburgh to a draw

Forres Mechanics finally showed they can take points off the Highland League big guns by holding champions Fraserburgh to a 1-1 draw at Mosset Park on Saturday.

Cans’ manager Steven MacDonald was thrilled with his team’s performance against a side who mauled Mechanics 7-0 at the same venue a year ago.

A first half own goal by Forres skipper Martin Groat gave the Buchan visitors a shot in the arm and saw their hosts pegged back for a spell.

Ben Barron’s ninth goal of the season levelled things up after the break.

MacDonald admitted that a break in play when one of the referee’s assistants picked up an injury and a call was made for a replacement from the crowd could have helped the Forres cause.

But he insists his team wasn’t holding on at the end and even threatened to grab a winner themselves.

“The boys did really well,” he said. “We were chuffed to get something from one of the bigger teams, especially the champions.

“We feel we have been competing with the top teams we have played against and giving them a wee bit of a fright. We were hinting that we might get something from one of these teams the way that we had been playing, so it was great to see on Saturday especially after falling behind to a bad goal.

“We started really well and took the game to Fraserburgh but then we just gifted a goal to them, it was a goal that they didn’t have to work for.

“They started causing us problems and all of a sudden it didn’t look great.”

When the assistant had to leave the field injured, a qualified female official from Buchan stepped forward to answer the call for a replacement.

“There was a bit of disruption, thankfully the woman from Fraserburgh kindly volunteered or else the game wouldn’t have been able to continue,” MacDonald said.

“She stepped in and if anything it broke up the Fraserburgh momentum and allowed us to rest and think what we were doing. It got us through to half time.

“To be fair to the boys the second half saw us with a great improvement and we certainly weren’t hanging on, we were always a threat.

“The goal came from young Shaun Morrison switching to the right and he did a really fantastic bit of skill to trick Willie West, who is a vastly experienced left back.

“He went over his head and got a really good shot away, the keeper saved it but he’s followed it up well and put it on a plate for Ben, who is in the right position.

“You could see from the boys’ reaction, it was delight as well as relief but you could see there was a bit of belief as well.”

MacDonald hopes the result puts a spring in Cans’ step for Saturday’s League Cup visit to Keith, a side who won at Mosset Park in the league earlier this season.

“The Keith defeat is certainly not forgotten by me because it did hurt.

"We could have been four or five up at half time so it was a really strange game because, from being that far on top we crumbled a bit. They equalised and got a second straight after and we lost our way after that.

"If you are not on your game everyone will take advantage and we got punished that day.

"Keith have been good at home so we will certainly have to be on our game, that’s for sure."

MacDonald hopes to have Dale Wood and Ryan MacLeman back after missing the Fraserburgh game, but centre backs Ruari Fraser and Graham Fraser are set to miss out.

Jack Grant and Joe Gauld are also nearing a return from injury.