Nathan's header puts Cans ahead

Turriff United 2 Forres Mechanics 5

MANAGERS are always on the look out for a player who will put his head where it hurts but on Saturday Forres boss Charlie Rowley would have preferred to be looking anywhere but the head of Nathan Sharp as the Mechanics centre half paid in blood for netting the Cans first goal.

As you can see from our picture it is not a pretty sight but Rowley was impressed to see it looking that good! Here is what the manager had to say about the Sharp cut, “It was a horrendous gash and it was not very bonnie to see at the time. I am actually surprised at how neat and tidy it now is because when I saw it the gash was about an inch wide and a lot worse than it looks now.

“I definitely think it will be a fortnight at least before he can return as you have to be careful with a head injury and a key part of Nathan’s game is heading the ball. I have to say on Saturday it was his bravery and the goal that got us back into the game.

“We didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at that point because ion overall play there was nothing between the sides, but we made a couple of mistakes. Once Nathan’s goal went in it was pretty much one way traffic for the majority of the game.”

One of the key factors in the Mechanics excellent victory was the pace of Ross Archibald and Craig McGovern and the link up play of Scott Lawrie who was playing slightly behind Archibald in the “Number 10” role.

The Forres boss paid tribute to the two youngsters that he brought in this year, “With every single signing that you make, in particular when you are paying a fee for them, you always have a doubt over how long it will take them to settle in and get used to how things are done at Mosset Park.

“With regards Craig McGovern me and the coaching staff all believe that he can go on to be a top Highland League player. He is already a good player but on his day few players that I have seen can match his ability plus he is a strong strong individual.

“We are delighted with how he is progressing and after a nervy first ten to fifteen minutes he was outstanding. Meanwhile Ross has came in and in the last two games he has performed way above the standard we would have expected from him this earlier in his Mechanics career.”

The form of Archibald and the impending return of Lee Fraser (who was listed as a substitute) and Willie Barron means that even with Ryan Green sitting out due to injury the Mechanics will go into the final few months of the season with plenty of attacking options.

“As well as Ross, Lee and Scott (Lawrie) we have Willie Barron and of course Kyle Scott who can also play up top so that we have great attacking options now. Having signed Graham and Steven Fraser at the back I felt in the summer that we would progress in the future by making signings to provide more options in attack.

“I think if we can bring in players who are offensively top notch then it gives us a better chance of winning games as well as making our style of play a little easier on the eye than it has been at times. We are certainly making great progress and I am sure defences will be quaking in their boots in the weeks to come.”

On paper this was going to be a very difficult game for the Mechanics and when Turriff went two goals up with just sixteen minutes gone on it was clear just how tough it was going to be to get anything from the match.

Some great skill from Mike McKenzie saw him lift the ball over Graeme Grant and then striker a shot that was too hot for his former Vale team mate Stuart Knight to hold onto and Nicholas Gray followed in to net.

Then a McKenzie corner was headed goalwards from close range and although the keeper kept it out initially he could do nothing to prevent Cammy Bowden netting from close range.

The fightback began when a delivery was flicked on by Kyle Scott and Nathan Sharp rose above the defenders and keeper to head home from a yard before the back post ruck collapsed leaving blood pouring from a massive gash in Big Nath’s napper.

He was taken away to be patched up and replaced by Kevin Duguid in a move that saw Simon Allan go into right back and Graham Fraser switch to the centre of defence. There was a further stoppage when Craig McGovern’s boot opened up a 3.5 inch gash in goalkeeper Stephen Coutts’ knee. He was also replaced and required 15 staples in his would as the Haughs began to resemble a battlefield.

By now though it was Forres who were winning the war and they were able to net twice to go in 3-2 up at the break. The first was a trademark set piece with Simon Allan’s inswinging corner being met by the head of Kyle Scott at the near post. The second saw Craig McGovern chest a Kevin Duguid diagonal ball into the path of Scott Lawrie and he fizzed a low first time effort into the bottom corner.

Ross Archibald was proving to be a real handful and he earned the Mechanics a penalty kick in the 50th minute as his jinking drew an ill timed tackle from a Turriff defender and a high pitched peep from the refs whistle. Scott Lawrie stepped up to make another immaculate job from the spot sending the keeper the wrong way to bring his tally to six successful spot kicks for the season.

When Stuart Taylor was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Martin McMullen the points were in the bag and it was just a matter of how many the Mechanics would add. Simon Allan and Ross Archibald both went close while another Allan corner, this time from the other side, was met by Kyle Scott whose header struck the bar.

The fifth and final goal of the game came in the 89th minute when Duncan Jones played in Ross Archibald who finally got the goal his display merited, slotting past the advancing Willie Gatt.

The win moved Forres up to seventh and they will be looking to consolidate that standing at home to Rothes this weekend. Here is Rowley’s thoughts on the match against the Speysiders who have this week appointed former Forres Mechanics player Francis More as their manager.

“A new manager coming in can give a massive lift, they have scored five as well. It gives added confidence but we have that to look forward to, we take nothing for granted I have no fears if we play the same way as we did against Turriff.”

Turriff United: S Coutts(W Gatt 31), St Taylor, C Bowden, R Anderson, M Simpson(S Gauld 70), L Davidson, N Gray, P Young, G Harris, M McKenzie, C Herd Subs: R Henderson, R Ligertwood, J Chalmers

Scorers: N Gray(13), C Bowden(16)

Booked: N Gray (32), P Young (42) Sent off: S Taylor (66)

Forres Mechanics: S Knight, G Fraser, S Fraser, G Grant, N Sharp (K Duguid 30), M McMullan (D Jones 68), R Archibald, S Allan, S Lawrie, K Scott, C McGovern Subs: R Mackintosh, S Moore, L Fraser

Scorers: N Sharp (23), K Scott(42), S Lawrie(45, 50 pen), Archibald(89)

Booked: - Sent Off: -

Referee: Thomas Shaw

Gazette Gold Star: Despite the loss of two early goals the defence stood up to be counted in this goalsfest and no one stood taller in the trenches that Graham Fraser. Quality at full back but simply immense at centre half.