July 15th 2024
END-of-season fare at Princess Royal Park saw hosts Deveronvale fight back from a goal down to take all three points from off-colour Nairn County. Matthew Wallace’s clipped cross from the right dropped just past the far post before Cohen Ramsay back the ball back from the by-line on the right to Jordan MacRae just inside the box but he fired his first-time shot well over the crossbar. Ryan MacDonald warmed the palms of Deveronvale goalkeeper Errol Watson on 29 minutes but his volley from 18 yards was straight at the home side’s number one. A goal-bound drive by Callum Maclean from 18 yards on 35 minutes off Adam Porritt’s deep free kick was blocked by a defender before ‘Vale broke up the park and Lewis Dunbar’s low delivery from the right should have been knocked in by Dane Ballard for the opener but the ball bobbled just in front of the striker and he miscued from just a couple of yards. Kenny McKenzie sparked a Nairn drive forward down the left on 43 minutes and fed MacRae on the left Watson just beat the County full back at the near post to the low cross which followed. The visitors went in front four minutes into the second half. MacRae worked half-a-yard for a shot at the edge of the box. His effort struck Max Ewan in the back of the leg and broke perfectly to the teenage striker for him to stab the ball under Watson from eight yards. But the visitors were back on level terms just four minutes later. Lewis Dunbar was unmarked on the right and able to lift his head to pick out a cross. His delivery found the Robert Scott at the far post and the wide man’s volley into the ground from 10 yards out bounced up and into the roof of the net. MacRae then delivered a deep, out-swinging corner from the right on 57 minutes which Dylan Mackenzie controlled and volley goalwards from 15 yards but his low effort was held by Watson. Scott almost caught Hoban out of his goal with a looping shot from wide on the left but with the County goalkeeper racing back, Kenny McKenzie headed the ball away from the goal line. The Banffers completed the turnaround on 61 minutes. Harry Noble’s in-swinging free kick from wide on the right found the unmarked Graeme Watt on the six-yard line at the far post and he swept home a first-time volley with his right foot. Deveronvale almost increased their lead on 76 minutes when the ball sat up nicely for Dunbar to volley goalwards from 30 yards out on the right but his effort flew just over the crossbar. Deveronvale – Watson, Dunbar (yellow 54), Noble, Aitken, Dunn, Davidson (y90+1), Wallace, Watt (y 79), Ballard, Noble (Willox 89), Scott. Subs unused: Munro, Adams, Brailsford, Sutherland (gk). Nairn County – Hoban, J. Maclean (Naismith 65), K. McKenzie, Callum Maclean, Glenn Main, Porritt, MacDonald (yellow 90), Ramsay (Highet 82), D. Mackenzie (McConaghy 73), MacRae, Ewan. Subs unused: Fernandino-Soto, Maclennan, Ednie, Wilkie (gk). Referee – Graham Beaton. Graeme Macleod
