December 23rd 2024
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
FORRES MECHANICS 1-1 NAIRN COUNTY
SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST 2024
MOSSET PARK, FORRES
Goal Scorers: Ben Barron (‘15 pen); Shaun Sutherland (‘77)
Red Cards: Jack Walker (’65)
Match Report by Niamh Cowdrey
With 78 years to the day since the very first Edinburgh Film Festival, pure entertainment unfolded under the clear sunny Forres skies as County battled in a local derby match against Forres Mechanics. Though the points were shared in the end, County had an improved performance and consistent press.
The match started with opportunities at both ends, including the woodwork being struck by the Mechanics via Matt Jamieson, before County opened the scoring.
Nairn’s goal came from a penalty, conceded by the Mechanics in the 15th minute after Andrew Greig was up-ended on the left side of the box following a fine driving run. The penalty was taken by Ben Barron, who placed it in the bottom right corner.
County went in at the break one ahead. Forres came out in the second half determined to find an equaliser. Matt Jamieson once again hitting the woodwork, this time the underside of the bar with the ball bouncing off the line and out.
The press continued from both teams, with Nairn defending their advantage. County went down to 10 men in the second half, following what appeared to be a harsh second yellow for debutant Jack Walker in the 65th minute.
Despite going down to 10 men in the final 25 minutes, Nairn did well to keep their focus and continued to create opportunities.
Forres Mechanics levelled in the 77th minute, with Shaun Sutherland shooting from the right side of the box to curl around Dylan Maclean.
County will next play Clachnacuddin in the North of Scotland Cup second round, at Station Park on Wednesday 4th September 2024.
Nairn County: Dylan Maclean, Alister Morrison (Jamie Carnihan 63’), Callum Maclean, Jack Walker, Fraser Dingwall, Jamie Williamson (Wayne Mackintosh 44’), Scott Lisle, Alan Pollock, Ben Barron (Gary Kerr 70’), Andrew Greig, Sam Gordon (Jonathan Bain 70’)
Subs unused: Kenneth McKenzie, Matthew Wright, Tyler Eadie, Lewis Munro
Forres Mechanics: Cameron Farquhar, Tom Brady, Calum Howarth, Sam Nixon, Kaiden Connolly, Shaun Sutherland, Matt Jamieson, Jack Grant, Kyle Macleod, Aidan Cruickshank, Mark McLaughlan
Subs: Shaun Morrison, Taylor Thain, Calum Frame, Andrew Skinner, Josh Taylor, Robert Donaldson
Referee: Greg Soutar
