Forres squash team defeat Nairn B in Highlands and Islands league

Forres welcomed Nairn B to their home courts last Thursday and hoped home court advantage would see them victorious, writes Billy Montgomery.

Phil Taylor got his side off to the best of starts just by turning up as Nairn's number four seed had called off at the last minute giving the Forres player a 3-0 match walkover.

A disappointed Taylor was consoled slightly in that his 100 per cent winning record was still intact for the season!

The number three seeds were next up and this pitched home player Billy Montgomery against William Jack.

Jack, also a talented footballer with Nairn County, would provide a stern challenge for the Forres squasher.

'Monty' started well as Jack was struggling to find his game and length on the cooler Forres courts.

The Forres man pressed home his advantage and took the first game 11-6. Jack was better in the second as he started finding his length and timing but 'Monty' stuck to his game plan of playing to the front court when returns allowed and he eked out an 11-9 win.

The third saw the home player in dominant form as Jack's error count increased and he swept to an 11-3 victory taking the match 3-0.

Forres were now 2-0 up in matches at the halfway point of the evening's proceedings.

Robbie Watson now took up the baton for Forres as he took to the court against the talented Lewis MacLennan.

The first game was a tight one as Watson played a Jekyll and Hyde game as MacLennan stayed right in it.

Forres breathed a sigh of relief as Watson found his A game again to take it in extra points 13-11.

MacLennan came storming back to take the second game 11-1 as a frustrated Watson lost his concentration.

The match slipped away from Watson as MacLennan kept focus on his game to take the next two games 11-9 and 11-7 taking the match 3-1 for Nairn.

Forres now needed Graeme Spreng to put the bounce back into proceedings and seal the deal for Forres on the night's outcome against Paul MacDonald.

Into the first game and Spreng was hitting the ball at blistering pace but the consistency and accuracy was missing and MacDonald was probably more controlled. Spreng however did enough to win out in extra points 13-11.

MacDonald came back fighting in the second and took control of this one as Spreng was still below par, misfiring as MacDonald won out 11-6.

Spreng regrouped well and executing a better game plan against a tiring MacDonald took the third 11-6.

The fourth saw Spreng edge ahead in the rallies with the better percentages and his dominance took him to victory 11-7, taking the last match of the night 3-1 for Forres.

Gifted a match to the good at the start of the night's proceeding Forres had not wasted this opportunity and all in all were satisfied with a 3-1 match and 10- 4 points victory.