Banks O' Dee 3 Forres Mechanics 2: Fighting Can-Cans defeated in Highland League Cup
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IT was a familiar feeling for Forres Mechanics on Saturday afternoon after battling and competing well before going down to a narrow defeat.
The Can-Cans were knocked out of the Highland League Cup at the quarter-final stage by Banks O’ Dee in Aberdeen, beaten 3-2 despite scoring the first and last goal of the match.
Ryan MacLeman’s solo goal gave the Cans an early lead, but Kane Winton levelled the scores within a couple of minutes.
Lewis Crosbie put the hosts ahead on 66 minutes before Jack Henderson made it 3-1 with seven minutes left on the clock.
There was still time for Mechanics to pull one back through Callum Johnston, who rifled in from the edge of the box for 3-2 late on.
“We seem a bit of a nearly team at the minute,” Mechanics boss Steven MacDonald said.
“We couldn’t have started any better with Ryan’s brilliant individual goal. Unfortunately we switched off and they immediately went up the park and got a goal far too easily.
“It’s the first time we’ve scored and conceded straight away this season and we can’t afford to do that versus good teams. That gave Banks the strength and they were in control for the rest of the half.
“Second half we weren’t doing things as well as we normally do and Stuart Knight had some really good saves to make.
“We were up against it but credit to the boys because they went right to the end.
“We should have equalised when Lee (Fraser) got first to a header and Ben (Barron) finished it off but the referee decided it was a free-kick. These things aren’t going for us at the minute but there’s no point moaning as there were things we could have done better ourselves.
“Callum scored from the edge of the box and we threw everything at it last five minutes with Tom Brady having a fantastic effort into top corner which the keeper saved to stop penalties.
“Credit to the boys but we feel it’s a bit of a missed opportunity as we thought we could cause a surprise.”
Mechanics welcome Inverurie Loco Works to Mosset Park on Saturday, looking to do the double over their higher-ranked opponents and go two seasons without defeat to the Railwaymen.
“The last two games we’ve won against Locos we had a shade of the rub of the green,” MacDonald added. “We know how tough it’ll be, Locos are on better form now and we were steadier when we played them at the start of the season.
“We are losing too many goals so we need to tighten up, but we are getting players back and getting there bodies-wise.”
Callum Johnston returned at the weekend but is likely to miss Saturday, while Dale Wood and Stuart Knight both returned against Banks O’ Dee and will be available again for the visit of Locos.
Andy Skinner is set to return to training and will be available before Christmas. Joe Gauld may also return after a long spell out.
