Cans crash out in cup semi
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FORRES Mechanics’ bid to reach the North Cup final ended in disappointment with a derby defeat on Wednesday night.
The Cans lost 1-0 at home to neighbours Nairn County in a scrappy semi-final.
Forres boss Charlie Rowley said it was a missed opportunity to reach a final and pointed to missed chances by his team.
But the crucial moment of the game, he said, was a blunder by his goalkeeper Stuart Knight which led to Conor Gethins netting the game’s only goal on 56 minutes.
“I thought we probably just edged it in terms of chances apart from Stuart’s howler which has probably cost us in the end,” he said.
“I’m doubly disappointed because it was a missed opportunity, without a doubt.”
Nairn will now play Wick Academy in the final on October 10, possibly at Dingwall.
Their goal came when a high ball played into the Forres box was dropped by Knight and seized upon by John Cameron, who then slipped it to Gethins to drill into the net.
Cameron had hit a Forres post with a first half header as the visitors has the better of the opening 15 minutes.
Forres then had a good spell during which Lee Fraser forced a great save out of keeper Callum Antell and Liam Baxter went clean through only to poke a poor effort straight at Antell.
Baxter also had a first half goal disallowed for offside.
Ross MacPherson went close for Mechanics with a low drive from the edge of the box then missed an easier opportunity with a header from Duncan Jones’ precise cross.
Forres also suffered a late injury blow when Simon Allan was carried off with an ankle knock which makes him a big doubt for Saturday’s league trip to Lossiemouth.
Forres: Knight, Finlayson, Allan (Forbes 89), Grant, McGovern, MacPherson, Smith (S.Fraser 72), Jones, L.Fraser, Baxter, Khutsishvili. Subs: Howard, Hutcheson, Simpson.
Nairn: Antell, Glenn Main, Naismith, Morrison, MacLeod, Gregg Main, C.MacLean (Mackintosh 28), Cameron, Duncanson, Gethins (Urquhart 82), Pollock. Subs: Skinner, Halsman, D.MacLean.
Ref: G.Fraser
