Forres Mechanics 1 Keith 2: Maroons come from behind to win in Moray derby
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN IMPRESSIVE counter-attacking display in the second half saw Keith pick up a 2-1 victory against Forres Mechanics at Mosset Park.
The Can-Cans led 1-0 at the break thanks to Ben Barron's 28th minute header – and would have been further ahead if not for a series of missed chances.
But the Maroons bounced back from a disappointing first half in impressive fashion, with Przemyslaw Nawrocki's double sealing an important win.
Keith boss Craig Ewen admitted his side were second best in the opening stages – but called their second half showing "outstanding".
“The first half an hour Forres totally dominated the game and could have been four or five goals up,” he said.
“We couldn’t keep possession and couldn’t get out. We were really living on the edge and it was backs against the walls.
“In the second half we were really dangerous on the break. We got our two goals, but we could have had three or four because we had another couple opportunities.
“We had a few harsh words at half-time. When I spoke about the first half an hour I was close to speechless because I didn’t think we could play that badly.
“But we galvanised them at half-time and second half they were outstanding – so I’m delighted.
“We are absolutely buzzing with getting three points at a tough venue because we have had a tough start and Forres are flying in the league. It’s a great three points.”
Forres were on top right from the off and Jack Grant hit the bar after just 45 seconds with a dipping 20-yard effort.
Ryan MacLeman's cross was almost turned into his own net by Nizam Abdulkarim after three minutes, and Craig Mackenzie failed to keep his effort down from 10 yards on eight minutes after good work from Ethan Cairns.
Mackenzie – recently signed from Strathspey Thistle – saw another effort blocked after a quarter of an hour, before Cairns' shot was blocked behind.
Forres eventually took a well-deserved lead on 28 minutes through Ben Barron – who guided Martin Groat's pin-point cross into the corner with a delicate header.
Keith had a couple of chances before the break, with Kieran Mooney and Przemyslaw Nawrocki – who came on for the injured Nathan McKeown – seeing shots easily saved by Forres keeper Robert Donaldson.
Forres had chances to double their advantage right after half-time, most notably when Ethan Cairns drilled cross just evaded Ben Barron's outstretched leg.
But the game completely changed on 51 minutes when Przemyslaw Nawrocki fired home on the half volley to level the scores at 1-1.
Keith gained confidence, while Forres heads seemed to drop, and it was 2-1 to the Maroons just eight minutes later when Luke Emmett's cross was met by the head of Nawrocki to give the Pole his second of the afternoon.
The visitors looked dangerous every time they went forward and could have made it three but Joey Wilson fired tamely into the side-netting on 67 minutes, before Nawrocki had a tame effort at securing his hat-trick.
Substitute Shaun Morrison fired inches wide for Forres with almost his first touch – but again Keith threatened on the counter and Donaldson did really well to keep out Matty Tough with five minutes to play.
Forres went close twice in stoppage time – first when Andy Skinner curled just over from 20 yards and then when Dale Wood's clipped cross evaded Lee Fraser and Shaun Morrison by a matter of inches.
Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald added: “It’s really disappointing to lose the game after being in total control at half-time.
“We couldn’t quite get another goal despite having plenty chances and got caught with a couple of sucker punches in the second half.
“We didn’t really handle going behind well. The boys have done so well so far but that’s something we have to work on and learn from because too many went hiding when we were needing them in the second half, and they were feeling sorry for themselves.
“It was a game we were in total control of and have thrown away."
