Two minutes later Richard Macadie slipped
the ball through to Mackay, who was in the clear. He appeared to be held back
by a defender but referee Billy Baxter saw nothing amiss.
Then Mackay found Stevie Cunningham in
space just inside the box but the midfielder's shot was blocked.
The frequent sleety showers meant
conditions were hardly conducive to flowing football, yet Academy were playing
some bright and inventive stuff in the middle of the park. Mackay was at the
heart of it, ably supported by Macadie and Cunningham.
The home side came close to doubling their
lead when Gary Manson advanced down the left and cut the ball back to Macadie,
whose first-time shot flashed narrowly past.
Macadie then sliced wide after working a
short corner routine with Davie Allan.
Academy's number nine was turning in a
typically livewire performance and he embarked on a solo run only to be halted
– legitimately, in the eyes of the referee – by the combined efforts of Kyle
Scott and Graham Grant.
It took until the 36th minute
for Forres to have their first shot on target – a speculative effort from Gary
Tweedie that trickled into the arms of Michael Gray.
Academy gave themselves a two-goal cushion
a couple of minutes before half-time. Davie Allan showed great determination to
retain possession on the edge of the box before laying the ball off to Mackay,
who took a touch before firing it inside Stuart Knight's left-hand post.
Charlie Rowley's half-time team talk seemed
to have the desired effect as Forres had a lot more of the ball in the early
stages of the second period. Scott had a shot saved by Gray, then Matty
Davidson – brought on as a half-time substitute for Tweedie – was also denied
by the Academy keeper. Kevin Duguid was next to threaten, only to see his shot
fly wide of the post.
Academy regained their composure and in 53
minutes Craig Shearer saw a shot come off the base of a post after a good move up
the right.
The third goal was delayed only by a matter
of seconds, though. Grant Steven delivered a fine pass to Mackay, who raced
through to beat Knight with a cool finish.
The Can-Cans pulled one back on 66 minutes
when Neil Whyte set up an opening for Scott, who burst through the inside-right
channel and drilled the ball beyond Gray.
Substitutes Steven Ross and Matty Davidson
then linked up only for the latter to knock the ball over the bar.
Davie Allan ran half the length of the park
before slipping the ball to Macadie, whose effort was blocked by Knight. The
Can-Cans' keeper was called into action again to tip over a shot from Macadie
after a brilliant set-up by Mackay.
At the bottom end, dangerman Davidson was
sent through on goal but Gray stood up well to it.
Simon Allan was well off target with a
long-range effort before Forres grabbed a second goal on 88 minutes. Ross
MacPherson found himself in space 25 yards out and he despatched a superb
25-yard shot past the diving Gray.
There were some tense moments as Forres
piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and Mackay was well placed on the
goal-line to clear a Nathan Sharp header from a corner.
Sharp came even closer to grabbing a
dramatic equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time with another headed
effort which this time came off the top of the crossbar.
But the Scorries held on to make it eight
wins from their last 12 games as they moved up to eighth in the table.
There were bookings for the Forres trio of
Ross MacPherson, Matty Davidson and Simon Allan and for Academy's Ross Allan,
Gary Manson and Stewart Ross.
Manager Kirkwood was a relieved man at the
final whistle.
"It was a dream to be 3-0 up but you know
what Forres are like, they're a big physical side," he said. "We combated their
aerial power and we picked up second ball, but it was the second ball that
caused the two goals and that put us under a wee bit of pressure.
"We know about their aerial bombardment,
but they also try to play the game a little bit. But the boys held on – it
would have been easy to crumble from a three-goal lead to 3-2, then panic at
the back and go to three each, but they stood up to it."
Sponsor's man of the match Sam Mackay
Pictured receiving his award
from Billy Sutherland on behalf of match sponsor Seaforth Club Wick
