Forres Mechanics 1 Inverurie Loco Works 1: Can-Cans collect hard-earned point
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A BATTLING Forres Mechanics picked up a point after a 1-1 draw with Inverurie Loco Works at Mosset Park on Saturday.
Mechanics fell behind to Lloyd Robertson's eighth minute strike, but equalised seven minutes into the second period through Ethan Cairns en route to securing a hard-fought point.
Can-Cans boss Steven MacDonald was pleased with his side's performance, but thought there was more in the game.
"We were disappointed going in 1-0 down at half-time because we were much the better team, and the only team that was trying to play football in the conditions," he said.
"We passed the ball well, had a lot of good phases of play, created chances, but we lost a really bad early goal when Jack (Grant) got caught.
"But credit to the boys for battling for that first half and still being the better team. We thought at half-time we could still win because we were on top and playing well.
"The equaliser was nothing more than we deserved but after that I was slightly disappointed because I didn't think we really went on and believed we could win it.
"But that's being hyper-critical because a young team have come from behind against a top six side and we are pleased with the boys again.
"A point was fair, but I do think we were the better team but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb by losing a bad goal.
"But overall the draw was fair and it was a good game of football for the fans, in the conditions, at this time of year."
Mechanics fell behind inside eight minutes when Jack Grant got a low cross caught under his feet and Lloyd Robertson stole in and sidefooted home from eight yards.
Stuart Knight had to watch Robert Ward's deflected effort and tip it over the bar on 17 minutes at the end of a lively opening quarter of an hour.
Ben Barron could, and perhaps should, have levelled when played through one-on-one 10 minutes before half-time but got the ball caught in his feet before seeing his goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Greg Mitchell.
A corner just a minute later saw Barron have another effort cleared off the line, before Ryan MacLeman's left-footed effort flew across the face of goal and wide by an inch before the break.
The lively Ethan Cairns went close with a clever turn and shot on 51 minutes – before getting a richly-deserved goal a minute later when he broke through one-on-one and, despite a heavy touch, rounded the keeper to slot home.
Locos had a big chance to take the lead after the hour mark when Robertson was denied Knight before a stramash ensued, which resulted in the same man heading over from close range.
Robertson was at the centre of a lot for the visitors and fired an inch wide on 73 minutes after being played in by Garry Wood.
The game was swinging end to end as Barron saw a headed effort denied by a one-handed save from Andy Reid in the Locos goal.
The last chance of the game fell to the away side as Knight made a big save, denying Wood with his knee when the big striker played through on goal a minute into added time.
Mechanics are now four undefeated against Locos and travel to Huntly on Saturday.
"We are really pleased with the boys because it's good progress that we are making," MacDonald added. "It's just about turning some of these into wins now.
"Huntly will be a tough game, as they all are, but we can go into it optimistic with the way we are playing."
