October 5th 2026
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
CLACHNACUDDIN 0 – 0 NAIRN COUNTY
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2025
GRANT STREET PARK, INVERNESS
Match Report by John Dolan
County travelled to Grant Street Park on Saturday for a derby showdown with a Clach side that would finish the day just one point off the top of the table.
The high wind made it difficult for both sides to play any kind of consistent, cohesive football and it took until the 14th minute for the first real threat on goal to arrive. Clach’s James Anderson wriggled free of his marker to get a shot away; however, Jamie Carnihan got behind everyone in a busy box to make a goal line block.
A minute later and it took another goal line clearance, this time from Tyler Eadie, to stop Ben Gardner from finding the back of the net.
The home side again went close when a cross from the left found the head of Anderson, 14 yards out. His effort was arrowing into the top corner – until Dylan Maclean pulled off a flying save.
A good break from Nairn saw Paul Brindle in good space, but he was stopped in his tracks by a terrific challenge from Greg Morrison.
County again threatened when Calum Mackay’s cross from the by-line found Gary Pullen and his header forced Mark Ridgers into a fine stop, pushing the ball around the post for a corner. (H-T 0-0.)
Two minutes after the restart, Ridgers had to look lively to keep out another Pullen effort after he was set up by Mackay.
At the other end, Maclean was called into action to deny Morrison.
Ten minutes into the second period and a sclaffed clearance from Callum Maclean saw him almost slam the ball into his own net as he tried to clear Anderson’s delivery into the box.
County raced up field and Ben Kelly found himself in good space, but he fired well over from just inside the area.
As the gale-like conditions worsened, it became increasingly more difficult for either side to string any passes together of any real quality. And any attempt at high clearances was fairly futile – the ball getting caught in the wind before ending up further back from where it started.
Despite the conditions, both sides came close to breaking the deadlock in the closing stages.
With 81 minutes played, Anderson got a header on target, but it was deflected for a corner.
Two minutes later, Maclean’s quick throw to second-half substitute Ben Barron saw him gallop into the Clach half before picking out Mackay who unleashed a terrific drive only for Ridgers to get an outstretched hand to the ball.
The game swung to the other end and Morrison got his head to Craig Lawrie’s free kick, but it lacked the power to really trouble Maclean.
And in the last piece of action, deep into added time, a Mackay cross picked out Barron, but he couldn’t get enough on his header to trouble Ridgers.
The result leaves County in eighth place in the table with 29 points from 19 games.
CLACHNACUDDIN – Ridgers, Cormack, Nicolson (Adams 34), Gillies, Cooper, Anderson, Gardner, Macphee, Morrison, Thain (Lawrie 79), Leszczynski. Substitutes not used – Mackenzie, Lobban, Macleod, Kerr, Colligan (gk).
NAIRN COUNTY – Maclean, Carnihan, MacLean (Barron 58), Gamble, Dingwall, Eadie (Dey 70), Mackay, Pullen, Brindle, Kelly (As-Chainey 84), K. McKenzie. Substitutes not use – Voigt, Bain, Macinnes, MacKintosh, Munro (gk).
Referee – Stuart Randall.
This Saturday, County host title-chasing Formartine United in an SHFL match. Kick off 3pm
