Forres Mechanics striker Kyle MacLeod labels North Cup win over Clachnacuddin ‘most special’ of his career

For many of the Forres Mechanics players, yesterday was a first final and first trophy victory. It was fourth North Cup win of Kyle MacLeod’s career.

With the Can-Cans trailing 2-0 against Clachnacuddin, MacLeod scored at the most crucial of times - right before the half-time whistle - to drag his side back into the match and change manager Steven MacDonald’s half-time team talk.

That goal acted as the catalyst as Mechanics marched on to win the cup in sensational fashion - equalising through Ryan McRitchie in the second half before Calum Frame’s extra-time penalty gave Forres their first trophy win since 2012.

MacLeod said: “Just before half-time, to get that goal, it just gives us that lift that we needed

“We were a wee bit flat when it went 2-0. When that goal went in, as soon as I got into the dressing room, I said to the lads ‘we have got a right good chance here’.

“That is one way to deflate a team. When they're 2-0 up, they think they're cruising.

“The next goal is massive. I said that to the boys in there. And, to be fair to them, to a man, I thought everyone ran themselves into the ground.

“We got what we deserved. We looked like the team that were going to go on and win it and in the end we managed to do that.”

MacLeod’s pre-match, and half-time, message to his team mates was to make the most of the ocassion.

He added: “I said to the boys that you don't get finals that many times in your career. They don’t come around very often.

“You'll have boys that go through their whole career with no cup finals, so you've got to take that moment when you get the chance.

“Everyone played their part, really. That's what I loved about it. Even the boys that were on the bench were driving everyone on.

“You could see at the end their boys were out on their feet because they put so much into it.”

This trophy is the sixth of MacLeod’s career. He’s won three North Cups with Brora, as well as two Highland League Cups throughout a decorated Highland League career.

However, this one, he said, is the best.

“I've won this trophy before, but this is definitely the most special with this bunch of boys,” he said.

“They never know when they're beaten. And I think we showed that today. We dug in.”

And after a bit of stick, MacLeod joked: “This one goes out to the Clach fans who gave me a bit of abuse in the first half.

“I hope they enjoyed watching that at the end.”