FORRES Mechanics had gone ten League games without defeat, eight wins and two draws in that sequence, but it was Locos who brought the proud run to an end and now they look forward to three more games before the League Cup Final.

The opening ten minutes were fairly uneventful with a Simon Allan free kick and a Scott Buchan snapshot the only efforts of note before Locos took the lead. Good work down the right wing from Craig Ross saw him deliver a deep cross which was misjudged by Neil Whyte. His opponent Neil McLean had taken a couple of steps off his marker and duly volleyed it first time past Stuart Knight from 14 yards.

For the following 20 minutes it was the Locos who had the better of the game although there wasn't a real opening of note until a flurry in the final 15 minutes as the home team forced their way back into the game.
Nathan Sharp had a header that flew just over the bar from just five yards out as Forres posted warning of their intentions. Moments later, just after the half hour they levelled thanks to the intelligence of Fraser Bremner.

Having seen two previous long throws drop onto the penalty spot the left winger took up that position and was well placed to place a first time "slapshot" lob in off the keeper's right hand post.

Forres were then denied a stonewall penalty when a deep corner was forearmed off the head of Nathan Sharp as the defender looked certain to score. Somehow the decision went the other way.

It took some great last gasp defending from Mark Simpson to keep the scores level when Ryan Green flicked the ball past the keeper but the big centre back was there to control the ball on the line and thump it clear.

The visitors were the first to threaten early in the second half and Stuart Knight had to prove his worth with an early double save. Firstly he clawed a looping Craig Ross header out from underneath the bar. The ball only went as far as Neil McLean who turned past three players and hit a low shot which was deflected wide off the feet of the former Vale stopper.

The half progressed with neither team really threatening the keepers until a Forres Mechanics free kick at the edge of the box was floated into the arms of the Dave Christie and he immediately launched a counter attack. Neil McLean was the main thrust, racing clear of the defence only to be denied by Stuart Knight once more, but Neil Gauld was first to the rebound and placed a 25 yarder past the covering defenders and into the bottom corner.

There was to be a third to kill the game 11 minutes from time and it was a well worked set piece routine. Scott Buchan's free kick from just inside the Forres half picked out Dave McKenzie at the back of the six yard box and his square header was volleyed home by Mark Simpson.

With four minutes left Kenny Coull got in on the act as the Locos began to show what they are capable of when they are playing with confidence. A good move culminated in Dave McKenzie sweeping the ball goalwards, where the Locos number nine was on hand to flick it home and claim the notch.

There was a last gasp consolation for Forres when Charlie Brown took down a ball in from the right, on his thigh, and with his back to goal hooked an overhead volley up over Dave Christie and into the back of the net to conclude the scoring.

Forres Mechanics: Knight, Allan, Ross, e Grant, Sharp, Calder (Dougall 85), Whyte, Bremner, Green, Duguid (Brown 73), Gary Macdonald (Wardrop 75). Subs not used: Horsburgh, Fraser.
Inverurie Locos: Christie, Park, Buchan, Wilson, Simpson, Mess (Singer 67), Ross, McCulloch, Coull, Gauld (McKenzie 75), McLean. Subs not used: McWilliam, Graham, Youngson.

After the match Dave Cormie looked back on what had been a victory due to sensible tactics: "Forres handled the conditions, their pressing hurt us in the latter part of the first half, they were giving Ryan Green plenty of supply. In the second half, after a chat at half time, we changed.

"The plus point that we will take from this one is that the players will realise that I want to play good passing football but at this time of the season, coming up to places like Mosset Park, you have got to be able to mix it up with a different style as well. Hopefully after that result today they will believe that "

And he had words of praise for one of the scorers Mark Simpson: "Mark has gone quiet on the scoring front. He showed he is disappointed at being left out the week before but I got the right reaction from him. The only cricism I have of my centre backs was the second goal we lost."

Dave Christie took the place of Paul Jarvie between the sticks and got a "did OK" assessment from his boss but with Jarvie out of the final due to work commitments, he is only one option to play in the big game. Big Red is keeping something up his sleeve about a different option, one he reckons will be likely to play in the Fort William game. Watch this space!