Forres pay price for missed chances
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FORRES Mechanics suffered North Cup agony against a strong Inverness Caley side at Mosset Park.
The holders crashed 4-3 to the Highland side who included a number of SPL squad players in their starting eleven.
However, Forres more than matched the visitors in the AJG Parcels-sponsored final at Mosset Park this afternoon and could have retained the trophy had they shown more composure in front of goal.
Forres started brightly and carved out a series of chances in the opening 20 minutes.
The best fell to Lee Fraser when he was put through on goal but he blasted high over the bar.
Caley, who field goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey, defenders Kenny Gillet and David Proctor, flying winger Aidan Chippendale and striker Shane Sutherland in their line-up, took the lead in the 26th minute when Sutherland finished off a flowing move.
Within 60 seconds Inverness were two up when Sutherland's ball across the box caught the Forres defence napping and Bill McKay lobbed the ball into an exposed goal.
Forres continued to create chances and Kyle Scott twice went close.
A soft penalty award four minutes before the break, when Andrew Greig went down under a challenge by Nathan Sharp allowed McKay to make it 3-0 from the spot.
Forres got a lifeline five minutes into the second half when Simon Allan scored from the penalty spot after referee Douglas Ross initially looked set to penalise Ross MacPherson for a challenge on Chippendale in the Caley box.
However, after consulting his linesman, he gave a foul against Chippendale and awarded the spot kick.
Ryan Green, Sharp and then Scott Moore all missed great chances to make it 3-2.
Caley restored their three goal lead when Chippendale burst down the left wing and delivered a great cross which Greig converted at the far post.
Forres refused to give up and were rewarded when Moore got on the end of a cross by Scott to head home.
And when Lee Fraser blasted the ball into the net from close range a minute into injury time, there was still hope that they might take the game into extra time.
However, Caley held on to claim the trophy.
Forres boss Charlie Rowley said: "There was a 15 minute spell in the first half when Caley were on top but that was the only period in the game when we were second best to them.
"We acquitted ourselves well as a team and certainly did ourselves justice.
"I am pleased and disappointed at the same time," he added.
