Fortress Forres crumbles as Cans are opened up

Forres Mechanics 2 Inverurie Loco Works 3

The venue formerly known as Fortress Mosset Park took another direct hit on Saturday as Inverurie Locos fought back from two goals down to claim all three points from a game that left manager questioning his team’s desire and attitude.

This was a result that wouldn’t have happened over the past three seasons where the Mechanics have been virtually unbeatable at home and Charlie Rowley felt that it was an outcome that should have been avoided on Saturday

He began, “We should be seeing it out from a two goal lead but I never felt we were comfortable. We didn’t show any belief. Locos scored their first goal from a position that I classed as not one of any real danger.

“Our heads went down after that, our body language was poor and to the Locos credit once they got the goal back they went on to pummel us. I am disappointed with the desire, or lack of it, and the attitude we showed.

“Up to the point of going two goals up it was fine but after that, well, it was just unacceptable.”

It was another mystifying performance from the title holders and the manager could find very few players who he felt could hold their heads high on an individual level after the game,

“The Locos took a real lift from that goal but we have enough experience about us to see things out but in my view we only had two or three players who played really well (Grapies Grant, Ryan Green and Kevin Duguid). We have another difficult game ahead of us on Saturday, away to Huntly, and we are going to have to improve quickly.”

There were two changes to the team that beat Rothes last weekend. Scott Moore returned to midfield in place of Craig McGovern and Ryan Green came in for his third start of the season in the absence of Ryan Mackintosh. Charlie Brown was listed as a trialist on the bench reflecting the current selection issues.

In the corresponding fixture last season it was the Locos who impressed but Forres who showed the grit to take the points, so a close encounter was expected. The early indications were that this one could go either way.

Neil Gauld was the first to threaten when he zipped a 16 yard effort just past Stuart Knight’s right hand post in the fourth minute. The Cans first attack of note came eight minutes later with Ryan Green racing onto the ball and going round Andy Reid but the big striker was unable to knock the ball home on the angle with his effort also going past the right hand post.

There was an even bigger let off for the visitors when a Simon Allan free kick from deep was flicked on by defender Steven Park and with Andy Reid stranded the ball came back off the post before being hacked to safety.

Forres had clearly settled into the game and were now looking the more dangerous of the two sides. Therefore it was no surprise when the took the lead just before the half hour mark.

Scott Moore made a trademark dart into the penalty area before drawing the challenge that earned a spot kick from referee Morag Pirie. With Scott Lawrie, who has scored four from four so far this season, unavailable it was Simon Allan who resumed penalty duty and he made no mistake, slamming the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the Reid’s goal.

The visitors produced their best move of the half in the dying stages of the first forty-five. Jamie Michie played the ball wide to full back Kieron Adams who galloped up the right before feeding in Neil Gauld. He then drilled the ball across the face of goal but fortunately Nicky Gordon just failed to get his foot on the end of the cross.

1-0 at the break was good enough for most of a Forres persuasion but things were to get even better in the 51st minute as the home side doubled their lead. Defender Graeme Grant got his foot on the ball and picked out the run of Ryan Green. The big striker then produced a sublime finish, lofting the ball over the head of the stranded goalkeeper from all of thirty yards to make it three starts, three goals.

Three points looked on the cards but the confidence that Forres could simply soak up a spell of pressure from their opponents just isn’t there this season in the way it was last year and Inverurie hit back in style.

It was 2-1 on the hour mark when Keiron Adams picked out Graeme Stewart and his ball to the back post was met by fellow midfielder Clark Bain who had ghosted into position and he duly headed past Stuart Knight.

This brought a surge of adrenalin from the Locos who pinned Forres back into their own box. They squandered two chances in quick succession and it seemed like only a matter of time before the leveller arrived.

That time was the 68th minute and once again it began with full back Adams. The former Montrose youngster picked out the run of striker Neil Gauld and he took the ball in his stride to place a right footed shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

The flow of the game didn’t change and the turnaround was complete with twelve minutes to go. John Maitland played the ball to Clark Bain who jinked his way into a position to shoot. Although Knight saved the initial effort he watched in horror as Neil Gauld reacted the quickest to slot home the rebound.

Forres had no option other than to go for it in the closing stages but the horse had already bolted and there was to be no point saving goal to lighten the mood before the final whistle. The loss leaves the Mechanics in 12th place, eleven points behind the leaders Cove Rangers ahead of their trip to second placed Huntly next weekend.

Full Time: Forres Mechanics 2 Inverurie Loco Works 3

Forres Mechanics: S Knight, G Fraser, S Fraser (J Main 85), G Grant, N Sharp, F Bremner, S Allan (M Fraser 85), K Duguid, R Green, K Scott, S Moore (R Macpherson 65) Subs: C Brown, S McIntosh

Scorers: S Allan (29 pen), R Green (51)

Booked: S Moore (64) Sent Off: -

Inverurie Loco Works: A Reid, K Adams, M Young (N McLean 46), C Bain, S Park, R Broadhurst, J Michie, G Stewart, N Gauld, M Souter, N Gordon (J Maitland 63) Subs: S Begg, C Ross, D Bell

Scorers: C Bain (60), N Gauld (68, 78)

Booked: N Gordon (54), G Stewart (64), Sent Off: -

Referee: Morag Pirie.

Gazette Gold Star: Despite a disappointing result the return of Ryan Green to the starting line up after a calf injury was a bright spot for the Mechanics with the big striker proving to be a handful throughout. His exquisite lob was his third goal from three starts and earned him the Gold Star.