SLICK FIRST FORTY-FIVE SEES OFF FIGHTING FORRES

DEVERONVALE 3 FORRES MECHANICS 0

SCORERS: McKenzie 5, Gauld 25, Youngson 55 (OG)

Vale picked up another three vital points as they continued their pursuit of the championship crown and more importantly of current leaders Buckie who incidentally dropped two points at home to Huntly in a 1-1 draw.

Strikers Mike McKenzie and Stephen Gauld had the Banff side two ahead at the interval while an unfortunate own goal from Forres defender Gary Youngson ten minutes after the interval killed off any chance of a fight-back from the visitors.

Managers Stuart & Scott take their side to Grantown on Saturday to play Strathspey Thistle with a certain amount of confidence following this second victory in the space of four days and with almost a fully fit squad to pick from for the first time this campaign.

The title chasing Banffers started this match with an air of confidence about them and Graeme Grant was well placed to nick the ball off the toe of namesake Watt within sixty seconds after a Mike McKenzie drive had ricocheted into the Vale number 11’s path.

The homeside were rewarded for their bright start after just five minutes when Mark Smith was hauled down 22-yards from goal as he drove at the Mechanics defence.

Mike McKENZIE stepped up and completely out-foxed Forres keeper Ross Harkness with a clever set-piece which bulged the net with the custodian firmly rooted to the spot.

Ross Duncan very nearly equalised for the visitors minutes later when his curling strike from the right just missed the far post with James Blanchard struggling to get near it.

Mark Chisholm headed a Graeme Watt corner narrowly wide at the near post while at the opposite end a moments panic deep inside the Vale penalty area was eventually hacked clear also following a flag-kick.

A quick break from the Banffers saw Stephen Gauld test Harkness with a low strike which the keeper smothered at the second attempt and Mike McKenzie did likewise from a set-piece but again the Can-Can’s number one did well to save.

Ross Duncan came close again with a fierce strike from the edge of the 18-yard box which skimmed the crossbar before Vale doubled their advantage.

As he did for the first counter Mark Smith drove at the Forres defence and made good progress to the bye-line while his cut-back was perfect for the waiting Stephen GAULD who hooked the ball home with the aid of a slight deflection from 10-yards.

Bruce Milne might have pulled one back for the visitors but again they failed to work Blanchy as the ball fizzed past the keeper’s left-hand upright.

Derek Milne, playing centre-back, came up for a Mike McKenzie corner and just failed to get enough on his header to test Harkness while at the other end Ricky Wardrop also missed the target with a headed effort. HT

Vital Moment

A horrible own goal ten minutes after the interval saw Gary Youngson attempt to pass the ball back to his keeper but somehow it squirmed into the net with Harkness misjudging the strength of his fellow defender’s pass.

Stephen Gauld took a sore one on the back off his leg and was forced out of the action while Kyle Scott and Ricky Wardrop came close to pulling one back for the hard-working away side who refused to lie down.

Mark Smith had a decent strike palmed to safety by Harkness before Graeme Watt looked to have made it four with a curling free-kick which seemed to elude the Mechanics keeper but not for the first time during the match referee McNab made a decision which infuriated the home support and awarded a free-kick to the visitors.

Substitute David Chambers made a big difference to the attacking options of the visitors as his pace caused all sorts of problems for the homeside, James Blanchard being forced into a fine stop to thwart the speedy striker.

Fellow substitute Ryan Green also passed up an opportunity when he was allowed a free header but failed to hit the target and at the other end and with the last chance of the match Harkness got down well to deny Mark Smith a goal he probably deserved.

Graeme Rodger was voted sponsor’s man-of-the-match.

TEAMS:

VALE – Blanchard, Gilbert (cpt), Dolan, Chisholm, Milne, Rodger, Gauld (Duncanson 54), D Cowie, McKenzie (Barclay 72), Smith (M Cowie 85)

Subs not used: Urquhart, Brown

Co Managers: Stuart Glennie & Scott Anderson

FORRES – Harkness, Allan, Youngson, Grant, Sharp, MacPherson, Whyte (cpt), #Milne, Wardrop (Penwright 78), Scott (Chambers 65), Duncan (Green 65) Subs not used: Moore, Fraser

Manager: Gordon Winton

OFFICIALS:

M McNab, M Legge, D McLaren

VALE STATS:

Shots On – 5

Shots Off – 3

Headers On – 0

Headers Off – 3

Blocked Efforts – 2

Corners Won – 6

Offside – 4

Approx Attendance – 275

Last Season 1-0

Ground Condition – Starting to cut-up

Overhead Conditions – Calm /Showery

Temperature at KO – 2ºC