Formartine United progressed to the semi-final of the League Cup with a thoroughly professional performance at Mosset Park.
The visitors were 2-0 up at the break through strikes from Andy Greig and Connor Gethins.
Lee Fraser’s late header gave Forres hope before Daniel Park’s incisive strike ended any hopes of a home comeback.
Gethins was delighted with his side’s performance, and said: “It was a funny game, especially in the first half when the wind played a part.
“Every time the ball was played forward it was blown to the left-hand side.
“At my goal, Jonny Crawford played a long ball up the middle, I gambled, got a good touch on it and managed to get it across Stuart Knight.
“Andy Greig scored a brilliant opener and Daniel Park’s strike took a bit of pressure off of us, so we’re now starting to hit the ground running, which is good.”
Forres were without midfielder Martin Groat (rib) and defender Aaron Hamilton (ankle) but striker Lee Fraser passed a late fitness test on the knee injury he picked up at Wick Academy last weekend.
Formartine’s only absentee was injured striker Garry Wood, with player-manager Paul Lawson listing himself on the bench.
Formartine United shocked the home support when they took a seventh-minute lead.
Stuart Soane’s attempted clearance landed at the feet of Andy Greig who spotted Stuart Knight off his line and calmly lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper from 22 yards.
Mechanics responded four minutes later with a Lee Fraser effort from the edge of the box which was turned round the post by Formartine stopper Kevin Main.
The home side had the stiff breeze in their favour but the United defence, with former Dundee player Craig McKeown at the heart of it, looked very solid.
On the half-hour mark, United doubled their advantage when Jonny Crawford’s long through ball picked out Gethins and he bulleted the ball low past Knight from just outside the box.
A minute later only another brilliant stop by Main prevented a Lee Fraser point-blank effort from pulling one back.
With 13 minutes to go, Main produced another fantastic save to deny Graham Fraser, again from close range.
But 60 seconds later, Forres threw themselves a lifeline when Allan MacPhee’s cross was superbly nodded home by Lee Fraser at the front post.
However, Forres’ joy was short-lived as three minutes later United substitute Park made it 3-1 with an angled drive which went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Mechanics striker Lee Fraser said: “In the first half Kevin Main denied me with a great save and near the end he did exactly the same when my twin brother Graham had a great chance. Since I’ve come back from injury I’ve been struggling to find the back of the net. At least one went in today but ultimately it is disappointing to go out of the cup.”
