Keith 0 Forres Mechanics 2: Can-Cans advance to Highland League Cup quarter finals
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FORRES Mechanics moved into the quarter finals of the Highland League Cup with a 2-0 win over Moray rivals Keith on Saturday.
After a low-key first half, Mechanics took control in the second half and won thanks to an own goal from Connor Grant and a penalty by Ben Barron.
Forres' reward is a trip to Banks O' Dee in the last eight of the competition.
Cans manager Steven MacDonald was pleased to pick up a cup success at the third time of asking this season, after defeats to Lossiemouth in the North Cup and Glasgow University in the Scottish Cup.
"We mentioned before the game that we have let ourselves down in the cups so we are pleased to put that bogey to bed," MacDonald said.
"We were on top in the first half but we didn't show enough quality. Second half we caused more problems and looked a threat.
"Our consistency is getting better and we have to keep that level up."
A slow start to the game saw a half chance at either end in the first 15 minutes with Keith's Tom Andrews dragging wide from close range before man-of-the-match Callum Johnston forced Craig Reid into a good save.
Five minutes before the break, Shaun Morrison put in a cross which a stretching Ben Barron almost got on the end of, and that was the best opportunity for either side in a quiet first 45 minutes.
The second half livened up as Andrews again had a chance for Keith, this time heading Connor Killoh's cross over the top.
The first real big chance of the game came on 52 minutes when Craig Mackenzie's free-kick was blocked by Craig Reid before Morrison fired a well-hit effort which deflected just over.
Five minutes later the Can-Cans broke through when a seemingly harmless Callum Johnston cross was headed into his own net by Connor Grant.
A more dangerous ball was whipped in by Johnston just seconds later, with Ethan Cairns connecting, but Reid denied him well.
Substitute Ryan MacLeman almost doubled the lead when he took down a long pass superbly and unleashed a dipping effort from 20 yards, but Reid, who signed a new deal pre-match, again saved well.
The second goal came with 15 minutes to play after a wonderful, mazy run from Johnston, who took on two players before being barged over in the box by Dem Yunus.
The referee's decision to award a penalty was an easy one and Ben Barron stepped up to send goalkeeper Reid the wrong way for 2-0.
Barron could have added a second but was denied twice by Reid in the latter stages, first with a headed effort and then in stoppage time when he was played through by MacLeman.
Keith boss Craig Ewen said: "It's back to the drawing board for us.
"First half we were average and Forres were slightly better, but there wasn't much in it and there wasn't much quality on show.
"Second half, we came out with more about us, but from the first goal there was only one team that looked like they were going to score again and it was Forres."
