Keith 1 Forres Mechanics 2: Cans secure first win in three months
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AFTER three long months, Forres Mechanics returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Keith at Kynoch Park on Saturday.
Manager Steven MacDonald picked up his first win in his second game in charge, saying it was “nice to see boys smiling again” after a well-deserved success.
It’s the first time the Cans have won since a 2-1 cup victory over Turriff United in former manager Charlie Rowley’s farewell match on November 13.
The relief at full-time was evident – although Forres were more convincing winners than the tight scoreline suggests.
“I’m really pleased for the boys to get the win, they deserved it,” MacDonald said.
“There was a lot of relief in the changing room afterwards, and it was just nice to see boys smiling again because it has been a long time without a win.”
The first chance of the game came on the half hour mark when Allan MacPhee’s cross to the back post was headed off the top of the bar by Paul Brindle.
Brindle gave Mechanics the lead at the second time of asking, though, almost walking the ball home after a cross-cum-shot from MacPhee five minutes before the break.
Forres made a lightning-quick start to the second half and Shaun Morrison was denied well by Keith keeper Balint Demus after a defensive mix-up.
The second goal arrived in stunning fashion on 53 minutes as Brindle doubled his tally with a superb looping 25-yard effort which flew in over Demus.
It was almost 3-0 minutes later as Morrison’s shot was parried and MacPhee fired wide, minutes before Graham Fraser rifled a well-hit effort off the crossbar.
After a period of Mechanics dominance, Keith pulled a goal back on 81 minutes when Przemyslaw Nawrocki’s shot was controlled and poked in by Kieran Mooney.
Forres nerves were evident late on but they held on to move up from 15th to 11th in the league.
MacDonald added: “We were well on top and it’s a bit frustrating that we never went further than 2-0 ahead.
“I didn’t think we were in danger but they got a scrappy goal and then you are nervous for the last 10 minutes.
"Anything can happen at 2-1 and I kept thinking that if we lose two points here it would be really hard to take.
"You could see the boys getting nervy. I’m putting that down to the fact they hadn’t won in so long, because they were so far on top there was no reason it went like that."
On his goal, match-winner Paul Brindle added: “With the way the wind was, I had it in my head before I came out for the second half that I was going to have a pop.
"Nine times out of 10 it doesn’t come off but thankfully it did this time.”
Mechanics host second place Buckie Thistle this weekend.
On loan goalkeeper Lee Herbert can’t play against his parent club, creating a keeping issue with Stuart Knight also injured, but the good news is that Lee Fraser returns from suspension.
