Forres Mechanics 2 Keith 1: Both captains score as Forres edge Moray derby with Maroons thanks to Lee Fraser winner
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Forres Mechanics picked up their third Highland League win of the season, overcoming a spirited Keith challenge.
Strikes by Calum Frame and Lee Fraser sandwiched a stunning James Brownie goal for the visitors in an end-to-end second half.
A swirling wind made things difficult for both teams and chances were limited in the first 45 minutes.
Forres produced a good move down the left on six minutes involving Mark McLauchlan and Calum Frame, the latter crossing for Ethan Cairns to hook wide at the near post.
McLauchlan then mopped up at the other end when home keeper Lee Herbert failed to deal with a Liam Duncan cross from the left.
The best opportunity of the first half fell to Keith on 15 minutes from Kieran Yeats’ corner on the right which picked out centre back Lewis Coull but his free header was blocked by Herbert at point blank range.
Keith keeper Craig Reid comfortably dealt with a 25 yard effort from Forres playmaker Craig Mackenzie.
Herbert was very nearly caught in possession in front of his own goal as Duncan stole in on his blind side, but the Keith midfielder was injured as Herbert desperately hacked clear and Duncan was later substituted before half time.
Duncan, ably assisted by Jordan Cooper and Mikey Ironside had been troubling the home side with Keith looking lively every time they went forward.
McLauchlan had a long range effort deflected wide for a corner, and from the flag kick, the ball was played back in for Shaun Morrison whose close range header was brilliantly saved by Reid - but the offside flag had already gone up.
Mechanics were shooting from distance with Reid gathering a Mackenzie effort, then parrying a good blast from McLauchlan with Cairns nodding the rebound over from a few yards out, his blushes spared by another offside decision,
The game opened up in the second half and within three minutes Forres were in front.
Calum Frame stole in behind the Keith defence to meet Mackenzie’s diagonal ball from the left and calmly sidefoot home with a deft finish.
Cans brought on Elgin City loan striker Dylan Lawrence, who volleyed over just minutes after coming on from a Mackenzie corner.
The scores were level on 68 minutes when sub Gavin Elphinstone’s free kick hit the wall and broke to James Brownie and the captain curled a majestic effort beyond Herbert into the net.
Keith were all square for less than three minutes as Forres captain Lee Fraser also got on the scoresheet, forcing home from a Mackenzie corner.
The same combination saw Fraser power home a superb header but he was denied a second goal of the afternoon by an offside flag,
The Maroons had a great chance to level once again with three minutes to go, as a defensive error put sub Nathan McKeown clean through on goal but Herbert made a fine stop to deny him.
Keith threw everything at their hosts in the closing moments but Steven MacDonald’s men hung on for the points.
Forres: Herbert, Skinner, McLauchlan, Haworth, L Fraser, Badjana (Trialist 84), Morrison (Lawrence 54), Grant (Davidson 78), Cairns (Cameron 84), MacKenzie, Frame (Thain 74).
Subs: R Fraser, MacDonald.
Keith: Reid, Addison, Yeats (Elphinstone 61), Coull, Robertson, Gill (McKeown 76), Duncan Lynch 42), Brownie, Cooper, Taylor (Tough 76), Ironside (Wilson 61).
Subs: Killoh, Morrison, Mcleod.
Referee: K. Buchanan
