WATCH: 'We let the club down' says Forres Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald following Mosset Park club's shock Scottish Cup exit to Glasgow University
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MANAGER Steven MacDonald said Forres Mechanics as a club had been "let down" after his side crashed to a shock Scottish Cup defeat against Glasgow University at Mosset Park - watch highlights below.
The Cans were strong favourites against Glasgow Uni, who compete in the third tier of the West of Scotland League set-up and had never before reached round two of the Scottish Cup.
But a disappointing showing saw Mechanics lose 3-2 to the students, who will now take on League Two side Albion Rovers in the next round.
"We let the club down, simple as that," said MacDonald. "It just wasn't good enough and we got what we deserved.
"Not that I think they were particularly brilliant, but we just didn't raise ourselves at all.
"It's a Scottish Cup game and I couldn't have emphasised enough how important it was.
"But we came out and didn't start the game well enough. It was calamitous defending for their goals.
"We still went in level at 2-2 and thought we couldn't do much worse but we managed to.
"We managed to not create anything and the longer the game went I always felt they had that in them to get that breakaway set piece goal and that's what they did."
Mechanics started the match in sloppy fashion and received a warning on 21 minutes when Glasgow Uni's John Wight scrambled the ball past keeper Robert Donaldson before it was cleared off the line.
The warning wasn't heeded and the visitors took the lead two minutes later when Wight turned a low cross from the right home at the near post.
Mechanics improved for a 15-minute spell and equalised on 34 minutes when twins Lee Fraser and Graham Fraser linked up.
A free-kick was nodded across goal by Lee for Graham, who touched and smashed into the net from six yards.
The favour was almost returned five minutes later as Graham Fraser's low shot was turned onto the bar by Lee – the visitors were then fortunate to see the ball come back off keeper Ben Fulton's back and go out for a corner.
Fulton had to deny Ethan Cairns who turned and shot as Forres continued to improve.
Mechanics were hit with a sucker punch two minutes before the break, though, when Robert Donaldson dropped a cross into the path of Antonio Sisi, who composed himself and slotted past defender Dale Wood on the line.
Visiting keeper Fulton levelled the scores on the dropped crosses front before the break, dropping a cross to Ryan MacLeman who poked in from close range.
Glasgow Uni started the second half the better of the two sides, with Jonny Baxter hitting the near post after being played through by Sisi on 48 minutes.
Forres' sole chance of the second period came 20 minutes from time when Fulton denied a Ruari Fraser header with his feet.
The winner arrived seven minutes from time when a corner was met by a looping header from Calum Davidson to give the University side a 3-2 win.
The defeat adds to losses against Keith and Turriff United for Mechanics.
"It's not good enough for this club," MacDonald added. "The team is unrecognisable from the start of the season.
"From the fast energy, good football and movement that we had – it just looks flat now.
"We are looking sorry for ourselves and we need to snap out of it quickly or it'll be a long season."
