January 3rd 2025
MISSED chances cost Nairn County under-20s as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at Clachnacuddin. County fell behind in unfortunate circumstances on the second minute. Ewan McClaughlan's deep cross from the left was hacked into the Nairn net by visiting defender Andy Reid in his attempts to deal with the danger. County responded well putting the hosts under some pressure and Nick Highet's stinging drive from 25 yards out after cutting in from the left had to be tipped over the crossbar by Callum Maclean in the Clach goal on 18 minutes. Ten minutes later and the visitors were level. Matty Macleod's corner kick from the left was headed clear with Nick Highet first to react to head the loose ball back into the danger area for Jordan Macrae to flick beyond Maclean with his head from just in front of the Clach stopper. The woodwork prevented Nairn from going in front five minutes before the break when Dylan Mackenzie's looping header off a Macleod corner from the right struck the far post. The visitors went close again on 43 minutes but Macleod's dink over the advancing Maclean after latching on to Mackenzie's through pass trickled across goal and past the far post. Two minutes later the break, County had a golden chance to take the lead when Macrae raced in on goal and squared the ball for Macleod. But the attacker failed to get the conviction on his shot from a few yards allowing Maclean to gather. Nairn were out of luck again on 53 minutes. Mackenzie showed great pace and strength to run in on goal from the right and lift the ball over the advancing 'keeper but his effort was hacked off the line by a covering defender. Clach found themselves back in front with their first attack of the second half though. Ali Gunn chested down a cross from the left and steered a volley into the bottom left corner of the net. Then, Clach increased their advantage with 12 minutes left. A corner into the box from the right dropped to the feet of trialist and he drilled a low shot into the corner of the net from 12 yards out. Clachnacuddin – C. Maclean, A. Maclean, Deans, Trialist (yellow 68), Trialist, MacQuarie, K. Fraser, Lamont, Gunn, McClaughlan, Forsyth. Subs unused: C. Fraser, C. MacDonald, R. MacDonald. Nairn County – Wilkie, Alexander, Reid (Tweedie 73), Munro, Ednie, Barton, M. Macleod, Grant, Macrae, Mackenzie (MacBean 56), Highet (Fraser 46) (yellow 87). Subs unused: Gordon, Trialist (gk). Referee – Stephen McDade. Graeme Macleod
