Lossiemouth 0 Forres Mechanics 0: Young keeper's debut is highlight in stalemate
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AN UNDERWHELMING goalless draw with Lossiemouth on Saturday provided Forres Mechanics with their first point under manager Gordon Connelly.
The Can-Cans went into the game off the back of a tricky run of fixtures, which had resulted in four straight losses, while opponents Lossie had lost six in succession.
Both teams ended those losing sequences – but neither were satisfied with the result.
Mechanics captain Martin Groat said: "It's not what we wanted. When Forres go to Lossie you're expecting three points so the boys are a bit down.
"It was a bit of a battle. We couldn't really get the ball down, but there are positives to be taken.
"We got a clean sheet and were solid at the back – we just need things to click a little bit but it'll come."
One obvious positive to come from the game was the debut of Cans under 18s goalkeeper Logan Morrison – who came on for the injured Stuart Knight after just half an hour.
After shaking off early nerves, Morrison looked calm throughout the second half as he secured the first clean sheet of his young career.
He was only called into action on a couple of occasions, with the best of those seeing him race out to deny ex-Mechanics man Ryan Farquhar shortly before half-time.
Creating and taking chances was again an issue for Forres. Paul Brindle had the first clear opportunity of the game on 20 minutes after a mix up in the Lossie defence, but his volley went wide.
Shortly after Morrison's entrance, he had left-back Joe Gauld to thank for a last-ditch tackle with denied Farquhar a golden chance.
Forres had the best chance of the first half but Jack Grant's cross was volleyed out of the ground by Lee Fraser from close range.
With 20 minutes remaining, Fraser went close again – this time a well-directed header was kept out by Logan Ross in the Lossie goal.
Young Morrison in goal was called into action on 75 minutes, tipping away a goal-bound header before gathering Ryan Sewell's low drive.
The final chance again fell the way of Lee Fraser. Substitute Scott Miller went on a good run and fed the striker, but, after steadying himself, he side-footed over the bar from 10 yards.
With just a minute remaining, Cans central defender Graham Fraser was sent off for a second bookable offence after a trip on Farquhar.
Groat added: "Young Logan came in and did really well. Knighty was dancing about behind the goal and helped him out.
"We huffed and puffed in the second half and got in behind them – we missed a bit of luck, too.
"You'd back Lee one-on-one with a goalkeeper to put it in but it didn't happen for him."
Forres welcome local rivals Nairn County to Mosset Park on Saturday afternoon as they look to get back to winning ways.
