Keith 1 Forres Mechanics 2: Cans secure first win in three months
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FORRES Mechanics returned to winning ways with a 2-1 Moray derby win over Keith at Kynoch Park on Saturday.
The victory – which ended Keith's three-match winning streak – was the first of new manager Steven MacDonald's Forres reign.
It’s the first time the Cans have won since a 2-1 cup victory over Turriff United in former manager Charlie Rowley’s farewell match on November 13.
The relief of the Mechanics players at full-time was evident – although Forres were more convincing winners than the tight scoreline suggests.
“I’m really pleased for the boys to get the win, they deserved it,” MacDonald said.
“There was a lot of relief in the changing room afterwards, and it was just nice to see boys smiling again because it has been a long time without a win.”
The first chance of the game came on the half hour mark when Allan MacPhee’s cross to the back post was headed off the top of the bar by Paul Brindle.
Brindle gave Mechanics the lead at the second time of asking, though, almost walking the ball home after a cross-cum-shot from MacPhee five minutes before the break.
Forres made a lightning-quick start to the second half and Shaun Morrison was denied well by Keith keeper Balint Demus after a defensive mix-up from the hosts.
The second goal arrived in stunning fashion on 53 minutes as Brindle doubled his tally with a superb looping 25-yard effort which flew in over Demus.
It was almost 3-0 minutes later as Morrison’s shot was parried and MacPhee fired wide, minutes before Graham Fraser rifled a well-hit effort off the crossbar.
After a period of Mechanics dominance, Keith pulled a goal back on 81 minutes when Przemyslaw Nawrocki’s shot was controlled and poked in by Kieran Mooney.
Forres nerves were evident late on but they held on to move up from 15th to 11th in the league, while Keith remain a point ahead in 10th.
Keith manager Craig Ewen said: “We got what we deserved from the game, which was nothing.
“It was really disappointing. No excuses, we weren’t good enough and Forres deserved to win.
“It was like a going through the motions performance from us, unfortunately, and we were second best in most areas of the pitch.
"I could count on one hand the amount of players that played well.
“We’ve had a good run of form but that took us back down to earth with a bump.”
Keith are in action twice this week, hosting Fort William on Wednesday and Deveronvale on Saturday, while Forres welcome high-flying Buckie Thistle to Mosset Park at the weekend.
James Brownie is back for Keith, with Lee Fraser returning from suspension for Forres.
However, on loan Cans goalkeeper Lee Herbert can’t play against his parent club Buckie, creating a keeping issue as Stuart Knight is injured.
