Forres Mechanics Triumph in North of Scotland Cup Final

Forres Mechanics celebrated a thrilling comeback to secure a 3-2 victory over Clachnacuddin in the North of Scotland Cup final, held at Nairn’s Station Park on Saturday. Defender Ryan McRitchie played a pivotal role, scoring the equaliser that set the stage for the club’s triumph. This victory marks McRitchie’s third title in the competition, previously winning with Rothes in 2021 and Brora Rangers last year.

Reflecting on the win, McRitchie expressed his deep connection to Forres, stating, “I’ve been at a few clubs over the years, but I’ve felt most comfortable here at Forres, it feels like home.” After a brief stint at Brora, he returned to Forres in November 2022, a decision he now regards as fortunate, given his team’s resilience in overcoming a two-goal deficit in the final.

Character and Potential for Future Success

McRitchie highlighted the character displayed by his teammates during the match, noting, “Sometimes in the past we’ve conceded goals and we’ve folded… But we showed a lot of character in what was a huge game for us.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency to enhance their league performance, stating, “If we can cut that out we can get higher in the league.”

His success in finals is becoming a trend; McRitchie also netted the winner for Rothes four years ago. Speaking about his equalising goal, he acknowledged a fortunate moment with Clachnacuddin’s goalkeeper, saying, “There was a bit of luck with Mark Ridgers dropping it, but I anticipated it and managed to get there to score which was really pleasing.”

McRitchie also paid tribute to his manager, Steven MacDonald, with whom he shares a positive rapport. “I would almost class the manager as a mate… He puts a lot of faith in the players and he’s always positive,” he said.

Huntly Faces Aberdeen in Shield Challenge

In another notable fixture, Huntly is preparing to face Aberdeen in the first round of the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield at Christie Park on Tuesday night. Manager Colin Charlesworth has urged his players to maintain confidence despite a challenging run of form, with only one win in their last nine matches across all competitions.

Charlesworth remains optimistic, stating, “In terms of our levels of performance, we’re not far away, but it’s about turning performances into results.” He believes that overcoming Aberdeen could be a turning point for his squad, positioning the cup competition as a potential path to success for the season.

Acknowledging the difficulty of the upcoming match, he remarked, “There are no easy games and right now it doesn’t get much tougher than facing Aberdeen.” The Huntly manager is focused on motivating his team, indicating that they aim to make history by becoming the first Huntly squad to win the Shield.

Despite the challenge ahead, Charlesworth stressed the importance of concentrating on the task at hand, saying, “You play football to try to win things and that’s what we want to do.” He recognizes the strength of Aberdeen’s squad, noting their energetic and skilled players, and the challenge posed by their current form.

As both Forres Mechanics and Huntly navigate their respective cup competitions, the upcoming matches promise excitement and the potential for memorable moments in Scottish football.