The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Grant is ready as Forres take on leaders
Mosset Park: Can-Cans rusty for Brora visit
Forres Mechanics defender Graeme Grant knows what might be coming today, having already this season been on the receiving end of a six-goal thrashing by Highland League champions Brora Rangers.
Grant, 36, was a virtual ever- present when his team won the league in 2012 and believes Brora will present a formidable challenge even without suspended forward Zander Sutherland.
Grant said: “We could be in for a busy afternoon on Saturday.
“Zander will be suspended but Brora still have great players in attack including Andy Greig, Paul Brindle and John McLeod.
“We played them at Dugeon Park earlier in the season on a day when they hit top form and we just didn’t turn up.
“They beat us 6-0 but I’m sure it will be much closer.
“We haven’t played for seven weeks now as we have been having problems with the drainage at Mosset Park.
“We have been training really hard but there is nothing better than playing, so we may be a little bit rusty for this game.”
Forres will be without suspended midfielder Ross McPherson and the former Can-Cans captain will put his time away to good use as his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter, this week.
Brora midfielder Dale Gillespie, whohas scored 17 goals this season, will take nothing for granted as his side chases a third successive title.
He said: “We did beat Forres fairly comfortably at our place in October but that will count for nothing.
“If we win our remaining eight league games we will be champions again.
“That’s all weare focused on and making sure there are no slips.”
Sutherland’s one-game suspension may mean a place for Brora’s loan signing from Caley Thistle, Alasdair Sutherland.
Gillespie added: “Alasdair Sutherland has looked really good at training, so wewill have to wait and see if he gets his chance.” Cove Rangers will try to keep the pressure on Highland League title favourites Brora Rangers with a win at Lossiemouth today, but must cope without suspended central defender and captain Eric Watson and the north’s leading scorer Daryl Nicol.
Cove toiled to a 1- 0 home win against the Coasters earlier in the seasonandmanagerJohnSheransaid: “I was impressed with Lossie when we playedthemat home. We had to work hard for our win. They were very fit and Charlie Charlesworth had them well-organised.”
The Coasters will miss Portuguese forward Joao Rodrigues, who has a broken toe. Defender Jordan Main is offshore and experienced attacker Shawn Scott has a strained calf.
Fourth-placed Turriff United are at Nairn County but have seven players out injured. Manager Ross Jack said: “I wish we were going with a stronger squad. Ontop of the injuries, ourmidfielder Jamie Beagrie is offshore, Paul Young is suspended and defender Artjoms Kuznecovs has gonehometo Latvia with his son.”
Attacker David Booth, signed from Huntly, is expected to make his debut. Nairn manager Les Fridge said: “Games against Turriff United are always tough.”
Wick Academy’s only absentee for the visit of Buckie Thistle to Harmsworth Park is suspended centre forward Gary Weir, while the Jags travel without suspended Paul Napier. There will be a pitch inspection at 8.30am.
Clach will miss attackers Blair Lawrie and Stuart Leslie when they entertain a full-strength Huntly at Grant Street. Inverurie Locos co-manager Scott Buchan may have to resist the temptation to hand a recall to veteran centre forwardMartin Bavidge for today’s home match against Keith.
The former Caley Thistle and Peterhead attacker injured a hamstring against Formartine United on November 21, but is now back in training.
The Keith game today might come too soon, however, and Buchan said: “We will have to be careful about Martin’s return but we know we will have to be at our best against Keith, who are much-improved.”
Formartine United, who lost 4-1 to Cove Rangers in the Aberdeenshire Shield semi-final on Wednesday night, should get back to winning ways against Fort William at North Lodge Park this afternoon if the pitch passes a 7.30am inspection.
Formartine assistant manager Mike Cormack wants a response to the painful defeat and said: “We can taking nothing for
“We will have to be at our best as Keith are much improved”
granted but must take all three points to keep alive our title hopes.”
Formartine’s former Celtic, Motherwell and Ross County midfielder Paul Lawson has not recovered from a calf injury, while Fort travel without central defender and captain Darren Quigg, goalkeeper Ryan Hunter and midfielder Scott Chisholm, who is ill.
Fraserburgh will bewithout forward Steven Davidson, who has a broken hand, for the Bellslea match against Strathspey Thistle, who will be without midfielder Martin Groat and forward Gary Kerr, who are both suspended.
The game between Deveronvale and Rothes will be subject to a 9am Banff inspection. Vale will have James Blanchard in goal for the suspended Grant P e n n e t , wh i l e the Speysiders travel without forwards David Lawrence and Kayode Ezekiel.