Forres Mechanics midfielder Craig MacKenzie aiming to become goal-getter after signing new deal
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MIDFIELD man Craig MacKenzie was one of Forres Mechanics’ stand-out players in the 2022-23 campaign – and is aiming to become a regular goal scorer and help the club push up the table after extending his contract.
The 19-year-old joined forward Shaun Morrison and first team coach Fraser Bremner in extending his deal at the end of the season.
All three were already tied down until at least 2024 before signing extensions. MacKenzie’s deal will keep him at Mosset Park for at least another two seasons.
He said: “The club were wanting to tie me down and it was a no-brainer for me.
“I enjoyed my first season. I knew most of the team before joining so that made it a lot of easier.
“There were ups and downs, that’s for sure, as we started off flying but sort of tailed off towards the end.
“If you look at the first half of the season, we were about sixth and lost games we shouldn’t have been losing and dropped points that we shouldn’t have dropped.
"I don’t know if that was a lack of experience, but overall it was a successful season.”
Forres Mechanics were confirmed as 11th place finishers in the Highland League after Clachnacuddin, who started the final match two points behind in 12th, were defeated on Saturday.
That represents a one-place improvement for the Can-Cans, who also added two points to their total from the 2021-22 campaign.
The aim is to improve further on that next campaign – with MacKenzie looking to get Mechanics back into the upper echelons of the table.
“We are going to try to go for top six next season,” he said.
“We always want to do well in the cup competitions, too, but the aim is definitely to challenge for top six.
“We are all young and all get on well, so that’s a big bonus.”
MacKenzie – from Culbokie – moved to Mechanics from Strathspey Thistle, where he got his break in Highland League football.
Manager Steven MacDonald deployed the youngster as an attacking midfield, a central midfielder and wide midfielder during his maiden campaign at Mosset Park.
He scored two goals in the league – and that’s a tally he is aiming to improve significantly on.
“It’s slightly different with Forres (compared to Strathspey) as there is a bit more of an expectation to regularly win games and have more of the ball,” he said.
“I had a good first season in the Highland League with Strathspey and scored 10 goals. I would have liked to have scored more this season as I only got two.
“I’d like to think I’ll be going for double figures next season. One of the reasons Forres bought me was to contribute on the goal front.”
