Turriff United 2 Forres Mechanics 0: Second defeat in succession for Can-Cans

A GOAL in either half saw Forres Mechanics go down to a 2-0 defeat against Turriff United on Saturday.

Reece McKeown's early lobbed effort was added to by Rory Brown's second half strike as Turriff secured the three points at The Haughs.

Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald admitted his side were deservedly beaten.

"We lost an early goal, which was the last thing we needed," he said.

"It gave them, a young side, a bit of confidence but I still thought we were probably the better team in the first half.

"We had the better of the chances, their keeper had a couple of good saves and we were a bit unfortunate. It was disappointing to go in at half-time 1-0 down.

"In the second half we just didn't do enough. We didn't create anything really and Turriff got their second goal and they deserved the win overall.

"It is disappointing because we definitely started the season well. That is back-to-back defeats now and that has taken the edge off it."

Turriff took an early lead when the ball was played to McKeown who guided in a great lob over Stuart Knight.

United looked to add to that when Callan Gray floated in an effort with help from the wind but it went wide of the far post.

Forres had an opportunity when the ball was played to Craig Mackenzie in a good position – but defender Owen Kinsella was on him to deal with the threat and Turriff goalkeeper David Dey gathered the ball.

Another chance came to Mackenzie and he got a shot away which was saved by Dey.

At the other end McKeown looked to get his brace when he fired a long range effort towards goal that went wide of the target.

Forres had an opportunity to equalise when the ball came to Ryan MacLeman who got a deflected shot away, but Dey was there to make the save.

Just before the break the visitors were awarded an indirect free-kick in the United box for a Turriff back pass to their keeper. All the home players were in the goal defending a Dale Wood effort which hit the crossbar and went out.

In the second half the lively McKeown had another opportunity at goal which he could not guide into the net.

The ball fell kindly to Martin Groat who was in a good position for Forres and he skewed his shot wide of the target.

Ethan Cairns was next to have a chance for the visitors when he hit a shot but he slid while making contact with the ball and it was easily saved by Dey.

United were applying the pressure to extend their lead with Keir Smith seeing his effort go over the crossbar and McKeown trying a looping effort which went just over.

They then got their goal when Rory Brown took on two defenders and fired a shot which went in off the far post.

Up at the other end Dale Wood hit a fierce volley towards the Turriff net which was saved by Dey.

Forres had a late chance when the ball fell to Lee Fraser in the box who got a shot away but Dey was there again to block.

MacDonald added: "We need to go back and have a look at things during the week.

"We have to return to what we were doing to get the success from and start again.

"Our next game is against Clach at home and they have hit a bit of form.

"We let ourselves down against Turriff but we now need to focus on getting back to how we know we can perform."