Forres Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald praises his team and Strathspey Thistle for putting on a Highland League spectacle in wild windy conditions at Mosset Park
Forres Mechanics boss Steven MacDonald said the wild weather conditions was the only winner at Mosset Park on Saturday.
The Cans had to settle for a share of the spoils with bottom side Strathspey Thistle in a 3-3 draw.
With gale force winds constantly whipping across the field, MacDonald said both teams deserved credit for putting on a match that entertained the spectators.
The Forres boss believes Strathspey may be in a false position at the foot of the table given some of the recruitment they have made this season, and their potential to rise up the league in the second half of the season.
Two goals from mid-season signing Jordan Alonge twice had Forres ahead in the contest, while a superb strike by Liam Grant secured the draw.
“It's very, very tough conditions. I think it's hard to be over-critical of any of the two teams,” said MacDonald.
“They tried to give their all in very, very difficult conditions. That's the truth of it, really. I was coming down the road on the way through and I was thinking, is this game even going to get called off?
“There was parts of the first half where I was questioning it as well.
“It was really a horrible swirl in the wind. It really was. It was really tough, wasn't it? But some decent football in the first half, considering the conditions.
Mechanics stopped a run of four defeats with the draw and will finish the year with a home match against Formartine United on Saturday - a side they beat earlier this term.
He admitted a share of the spoils was a fair outcome given the conditions on Saturday.
“Certainly, we didn't do enough to say that we deserved to win it or whether Strathspey were a threat. So, yes, they dug in really well.
“From seeing today, I knew they would battle. We said that before the start and they certainly did that.
“I think you've got to give all the players on the pitch today credit for trying to battle through those conditions.”
Alonge netted after just four minutes to put Forres ahead, with Liam Shewan levelling on 20 minutes.
A second Alonge goal was cancelled out by Josh Race’s strike just before half time, and a shock was on the cards when Sean Ellis nodded the visitors in front for the first time on the hour.
Liam Grant’s sweet strike, his first in Forres colours, restored parity and neither side could find a winner in the final 25 minutes.
MacDonald admitted the Mosset Park pitch isn’t in good shape right now, and will need time to recover for Saturday.
“It's not good. I think it's overused and it's something we need to look at.
“We don't train on it now, but there's been a lot of games on it and I think it's vulnerable. But, yes, that's what we're in. We're in the Scottish winter and there's no hiding places or so.
“We've got to do better, but I think it's a difficult one to be over-critical of anyone. It's a leveller in the weather as well, it puts a different emphasis on the game.
“It limits some of the stuff you want to do, but this is not a secret to anyone. It's Highland League football and we need to be aware of that too.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with Formartine, MacDonald added: “I'm expecting a really tough game again and they certainly don't get any easier.
“Formartine are playing well and we'll need to keep working on that, that's for sure.
“We've had a good chat about it there, so everyone needs to work harder to get through this difficult patch.”
