The game started with a blow for the Mechanics when David Calder was brought off after just six minutes with an injury to his ankle, Calder's injury was iced immediately but he already looks a doubt for the game against his former club Keith next weekend, Gary McDonald was his replacement.

As if to compound the worries for the home fans the visitors very nearly grabbed an early opener. Fort William centre forward Michael Gillespie took control of the ball at the edge the box and drifted around the oncoming goalkeeper Stuart Knight, John Mutch came to the rescue as he cleared Gillespie's effort off the line.

Neil Whyte had chances to give Forres the lead in quick succession, his first opportunity came when he latched onto a long defensive clearance to be put through on goal but he was denied by Richie Munro. Fort William then gifted Whyte a second chance when he was left unmarked from a Simon Allan long throw but his header was off target.

Fort William then gifted Kevin Duguid an opportunity when Ryan MacLean's passback was too short leaving Munro under pressure from both Wardrop and Duguid outside the box, the striker managed to collect the ball and lift it up to try a volley at the empty net but was unfortunate not to hit the target from distance.

The deadlock was broken on the 20th minute mark when John Mutch played a long ball forward to Ricky Wardrop who cut inside his marker to slot the ball past Munro for 1-0. However celebrations were cut short 8 minutes later when Bruce Milne attempted to head back towards Knight but couldn't hit it powerul enough, Michael Gillespie picked up the loose ball and put it past Knight's right hand side for the equaliser.

His celebrations were cut short for the away side as Martin Goodwin hobbled off the park and Michael Gillespie was carried off on a stretcher inside half an hour give Fort boss Calum Maclean a headache as he tried to rearrange the team.

Ten minutes into the second half Scott Moore was played through one-on-one with Munro but the keeper managed to narrow the angle for the left winger as his shot went just wide of the target as the fans nerves began to jangle.

Then Neil Whyte was then given another opportunity when Fraser Bremner headed back towards goal after a partially cleared corner.  The ball fell to the feet of Whyte but Munro blocked the shot with his feet.

On 65 minutes Forres' blushes were finally saved when Ricky Wardrop beat the offside trap to score his second goal of the match and then just two minutes later a brilliant worked goal got Forres' third. Kevin Duguid played through Ryan Green on the left hand side, the supersub drove the ball across goal and Ricky Wardrop couldn't miss the open net from six yards to add his third.

Ryan Green almost added to the tally when he was played into space by Fraser Bremner, Green first time but only to have the ball smash off the crossbar and away to safety.  In the end Forres will accept the win but Fort boss Maclean will be wondering what might have happened had he been able to keep goalscorer Michael Gillespie on the park

Full Time: Forres Mechanics 3 Fort William 1
Reporter: Michael Mutch