Forres Mechanics FC v Stenhousemuir FC

Match Report

Forres Mechanics v Stenhousemuir at Mosset Park Forres on 26.11.16

William Hill Scottish Cup Third Round                 Att 369

Forres Mechanics 2 [Allan 27, Lee Fraser 66] Stenhousemuir 2 [Kerr 45, Furtado 47]

Forres Mechanics – Knight, Allan, Grant, G.Fraser, L.Fraser, McGovern [Groat 80], Knutsishvili, Graham [Baxter 83], MacPherson [Cameron 78], Finlayson and Soane. Subs not used – Paterson, Scott, McLean and Storrier.

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack, Summers, Marsh, Kerr, Berry [Meechan 75], Gilhaney [Manzana 75], Millar, Roy, McMenamin and Furtado. Subs not used – Robertson, Hamilton and McCroary.

Referee – Scott Millar                  Assistants – Douglas Ross and Calum Spence

After the long journey to Stranraer it was an even longer one to Forres in the Third Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup, To break the travelling time up though the team had a rare overnight stay prior to the game so that they were fully prepared for the game. This could have been a lesson learned after the poor performance at Brora Rangers in the Challenge Cup the previous year.

There was a provisional pitch inspection on the Friday and many Stenhousemuir supporters would have thought it would be off as the temperature rarely breeched zero in the lowlands. Up north however it was a lot milder and the concern was that the soft pitch would struggle if there was a heavy downpour. 

In the opening stages Forres showed their intent with Dachi Knutsisvili in particular causing problems down the right flank. The first scoring opportunity came when he took advantage of a Ciaran Summers slip and his inch perfect pass was met by Scott Graham whose strike was blocked by Colin McCabe before being scrambled clear. The Georgian youth internationalist then created an opening for himself but his cross field shot was saved by McCabe. Stenhousemuir then came close themselves with a Colin McMenamin header that was cleared off the line by Ross McPherson.

Forres took the lead in the 27^th minute. The ball was transferred quickly from defence to attack and a long ball picked out Graham. Whilst running for the ball with David Marsh he was adjudged to have been fouled by the Warrior’s defender. Marsh was duly cautioned and the punishment was made worse when Simon Allan steered a free kick though the wall and into the net.

That goal gave the home side belief and certainly knocked Stenhousemuir out of their stride. Gradually they regained their composure and Stuart Knight denied Alastair Roy with a fine stop after Ciaran Summers had opened the home defence up with a run and cross. Nevertheless it looked as if Forres would go into half time in the lead when the Warriors equalised in stoppage time. A short corner by Willis Furtado to Roy was whipped across goal for Fraser Kerr to steer a deft effort into the far corner of the net.

Stenhousemuir took the lead two minutes after the restart with Furtado hooking a shot from 20 yards past Knight and into the net after the keeper had punched a cross into his path. After that Roy then dragged a shot wide and a powerful drive by Summers was tipped over.

To their credit Forres didn’t wilt under the pressure and they drew level in the 66^th minute though it is fair to say they were given a helping hand after Colin McCabe was caught in no mans land when a free kick was played into the danger area and Lee Fraser headed home.

Two minutes later Knight saved the Mechanics once again this time tipping a McMenamin drive over the bar. As the game progressed Stenhousemuir were the stronger team but they were unable to beat Knight for a third time. He came to their rescue to tip a Willis shot from the touch line over when he could have been caught out and then denied Summers once again in the 87^th minute when he tipped a powerful drive onto the bar and over.

The final whistle blew though with the scores level and the teams had to do it all over again at Ochilview.