Rowley takes his hat off to Soane as Can-Cans impress

DEVERONVALE 0 FORRES MECHANICS 5

Forres Mechanics’ great start to the season continued as they scored five times without reply against a Deveronvale side who struggled to get into the match apart from a 20-minute spell in the second half.

Stuart Soane had a hattrick while Alan Pollock chipped in with a brace for a side who look like they could be title challengers this term.

Forres manager Charlie Rowley was delighted to see his side dominate much of the game but believes the final scoreline flattered his side.

He said: “There was no question that we deserved to win the game but when we got the third and fourth goals I thought it was a bit harsh on Vale as they were much improved in the second half, so they deserve some credit for stopping us dominating as we did in the first half.

“We showed a bit of professionalism to dig in before picking them off at the end with three further goals.

“It was a superbly taken hat-trick from Soane, with his third goal giving me great pleasure as that was our fourth hat-trick already this season.”

Vale manager Steve Dolan was left to rue his team’s first-half showing.

The Banffers were never at the races during that period and it cost them dear.

He said: “I said to the lads before the game started that we had to make sure we didn’t sit back because if you do against Forres they will hurt you.

“We had three chances to clear the ball at the first goal, which was disappointing, and it took us until a 20-minute spell in the second half to put them under pressure.

“But we couldn’t score and lost a third goal before losing another two.

“They are a better team than people give them credit for and they could finish in the top three as it is in them”

Soane put Forres ahead after 10 minutes with a close-range finish.

He doubled the advantage 13 minutes later when he collected a Scott Moore pass to score from 10 yards.

Grant Noble missed a great opening for Vale just before the break when he was denied by a fine Stuart Knight save.

Forres netted three more times as Pollock scored after 79 minutes, Soane completed his hat-trick with a top-class strike into the postage stamp corner from 20 yards just under a minute later, then Pollock ended the scoring as he scored at the back post two minutes from time to round off a ruthless display.