Can-Cans defender hoping for cup stroll

Set-piece specialist keen to make his mark against Civil Service

Forres Mechanics set-piece specialist Simon Allan hopes he has done enough to keep his place in the team for this weekend’s Scottish Cup tie against Civil Service Strollers.

The Can-Cans will be bidding to end a threegame losing streak when the Lowland League side visits Mosset Park on Saturday.

Allan, 33, has struggled for starts this season due to the form of Martin Groat.

He said: “I wasn’t enjoying my football at all last term and I took some time out.

“Since coming back this season, I have loved every minute of it, especially the banter.

“I have mostly been on the bench due to Martin’s brilliant form.

“I started at right back against Rothes last weekend as Martin was attending a wedding.

“Hopefully I can keep my place in the side for this Saturday’s cup tie.”

The Forres defender was pleased his side landed a home tie after years of travelling to far-flung venues across the country.

He said: “We have had numerous long cup journeys in recent years to places such as Girvan, Coldstream, Dalbeattie and Wigtown.

“It’s great to have a home game this time around in the Scottish Cup.

“We were listening to the first-round draw on the radio when travelling back from our game at Clach on the team bus and we were all pretty happy with it.

“We actually faced Civil Service Strollers at Mosset Park quite a few years ago and we beat them 4-1 that day.

“Our manager Charlie Rowley had someone take a look at them the other week.

“They lost at home that day but in the last week or two our own form hasn’t been all that great.

“We’ve lost our last three matches which is unusual as we had only lost four in our last 32 starts before then. When you are on a winning run everyone wants to beat you and put you down a bit.

“I still think we’ve had a pretty good season so far and we can go into Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie pretty confident that we can come away from it with a positive result.”

Allan, meanwhile, hopes top goalscorer Stuart Soane is fit to play this Saturday after struggling with a hamstring injury.

He added: “Stuart is resting up this week in an effort to be fit for Saturday.

“He can play anywhere. “He’s been brilliant in attack but when he plays at the back he looks like the most natural centre-half I’ve seen.

“Our regular centrehalf Graham Fraser had to go off for 10 minutes at Rothes last weekend with a gash above his eyebrow which required stitches but, knowing him, there’s no way he will be missing from the side to take on Civil Service Strollers this weekend.”