On paper this game had the makings of a banger, but it turned into a damp squib as top of the table Forres smothered any smoulderings of Lilywhite flames as they stamped their authority on a Clach side that lacked belief.
It was the home team that started the more promising and as early as the 2nd minute when Neil Macdonald delivered a free kick into the heart of the Forres area, which took the visitors 3 attempts to clear before Mark Kennedy blasted past. Then debutant Scott Graham had a half chance at the edge of the box , but his drive was blocked by the out rushing Knight and Clach's chance of an early lead had gone.
Neil Macdonald came to his sides rescue when his perfectly timed tackle prevented Lee Fraser from getting his shot away after the lanky centre forward had raced onto a lovely timed pass from Kyle Scott.
Neil Whyte then did well to latch onto a through ball, he should have opened the scoring but his drive cannoned off Steve Dunn and clipped the crossbar on the way over. But the visitors did take the lead from the resultant corner, Simon Allan crossed for Graham Fraser to power a close range header past the helpless Dunn.
Clach responded almost immediately but Kennedy's effort could only find the side netting. Then a great diagonal pass from Mark Dougall found Michael Finnis wide on the left, he bore down on goal before rifling in a shot that Stuart Knight did well to tip round the post for a corner.
Gary Tweedie tried his luck at the other end when a poor clearance from Bruce Milne dropped kindly for him, but the Forres man's volley flew just wide of target. Neil Whyte then came close but his glancing header dropped just the wrong side of the post.
A second Forres goal was on the cards and it duly arrived on 35 minutes when Lee Fraser showed Bruce Milne a clean pair of heals before squaring for the unmarked Gary Tweedie who rocketed the ball into the awaiting net to double the lead for the league toppers.
The Can cans almost wrapped things up on half time but Steve Dunn did extremely well to parry a Neil Whyte shot from 20 yards.
Half time: Clachnacuddin 0 Forres Mechanics 2
The second half was a more sedate affair with Forres commanding the play and Clach looking for scraps. Simon Allan delivered another great corner, and again it was Graham Fraser that got his head to it, but this time his effort was just too high.
By now it was all Forres , Lee Fraser brought out a great save from Dunn and Kevin Duguid was unlucky for the rebound to hit him and sail over the top .Clach came back to life when a Gordy Morrison flick found sub Sam Urquhart free at the angle of the 18, but his shot was palmed away for a corner by Knight.
The corner was tame and easily clamed by Knight who wasted no time in launching it to the other end of the park where Kyle Scott head flicked it onto Lee Fraser for the Forres man to thump it behind the stranded Dunn to secure the 3 points and keep the Moray team at the top of the pile.
Full time: Clachnacuddin 0 Forres Mechanics 3
Reporter: Kenny Macleod