31 mins ago
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
FORRES MECHANICS 1 – 0 NAIRN COUNTY
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2026
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goal Scorers: Calum Frame (31′)
Match Report by John Dolan
Nairn made a number of changes for the short trip to Forres on Saturday. Andy Greig and Paul Brindle, who picked up knocks in the previous week’s win at Rothes, dropped to the bench, while Tyler Eadie, Fin As-Chainey and Kenny McKenzie returned to the starting line-up. Keeper Thomas McHale was also named among the substitutes after returning from his one-week re-call to his parent club Elgin; however, Dylan Maclean kept the gloves.
A misplaced pass from Eadie, eight minutes in, put Nairn in trouble, allowing Calum Frame to run in on goal, but the Forres man scuffed his effort.
A promising run into the area by Nairn’s Jamie Carnihan saw the full back put in a tempting ball, but there were no takers and the ball was booted clear at the back post.
County came within a whisker of taking the lead in 21 minutes when Carnihan fed Calum Mackay and from the edge of the box the midfielder was unlucky to see his shot skim the top of the upright.
A minute later and the home side should have been in front.
Mark McLauchlan found space down the left and his cross picked out the unmarked Ben Gardiner, but from just a few yards out he sent his side-foot effort over the top.
With half an hour played, Nairn suffered a blow when captain Fraser Dingwall limped off. Callum Maclean came on and Millar Gamble took the armband.
But a penalty in 31 minutes saw the home side take the lead following a trip by Mackay on Jack Grant. Frame stepped up to place the ball low past Maclean.
County threatened in 33 minutes, but Ben Barron found himself crowded out just inside the area. He managed to break free, but Forres keeper Sean McCarthy was well placed to put in a blocking challenge.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors – who were far from their best – as half time approached; while the home side looked fairly comfortable holding onto their slender lead, despite not posing much of a threat for much of the half. (H-T 1-0.)
County were first to threaten after the break.
As-Chainey picked out Mackay, but the midfielder’s first-time effort produced a decent save from McCarthy.
The visitors threatened again when Charlie Mackenzie fed Mackay and his low drive forced McCarthy into another fine diving save, in which he just managed to get his finger tips to the ball.
County then claimed for a penalty in 59 minutes when As-Chainey’s cross was blocked by what looked like the arm of Sam Nixon, but the ref waved away shouts for a spot kick.
There was a real let off for Nairn in 72 minutes.
Substitute Lewis Mackenzie cut to the by-line before rolling an inviting ball across the face of the Nairn goal, but nobody could get on the end of it.
The next chance fell to Nairn when Dale Wood’s cross made its way to the back of the goal for the waiting Carnihan; however, when he pulled the trigger he fired well over.
Dylan Maclean came to his side’s rescue when a long ball beat the Nairn defence and put McLauchlan in the clear; however, the keeper got to it first to head clear.
It proved to be the game’s last clear-cut chance, despite some late pressure from the Wee County, and the home side held out for the win to requite their 4-0 drubbing suffered at Station Park back in August.
The visitors had created the better chances, but were thwarted by Mechanics keeper McCarthy, who was named man of the match. And come the final whistle it was no surprise that it took a penalty to settle a contest that was far from a classic and overall was a fairly scrappy affair.
The result sees Nairn remain in seventh place in the SHFL with 40 points from 26 games.
FORRES MECHANICS – McCarthy, Nixon (Newlands 94), McRitchie, Ramsay (MacDonald 64), Sutherland, Macleod, MacLeman, Grant, McLauchlan, Frame, Gardiner (Mackenzie 64). Substitutes not used – Connolly, Hayliar, Jamieson, MacPherson, Best (gk).
NAIRN COUNTY – Maclean, Carnihan, Wood, (yellow 71) Gamble (y85), Dingwall (Maclean 30), Eadie (y78), Mackay, C. McKenzie (Brindle 85), Barron, As-Chainey (Greig 73), K, McKenzie (y5) (Macinnes 45) (y90). Substitutes not used – Maclean, Dey, Watson, Voigt, Thompson, McHale (gk).
Referee – Lewis Bell.
This Saturday, Nairn are at home to Lossiemouth in the Breedon Highland League. Kick off 3pm.
