October 13th 2024
The Reserves went out of the North Caledonian Cup as Golspie Sutherland proved to be a class above at King George V Park. The hosts sit second in the division above our young side and an upset never looked on the cards from the minute the home side went in front with less than 60 seconds on the clock. Indeed, Golspie led by five after less than half-an-hour although some half-time readjustments from Head Coach Stuart Finnie led to a more competitive second forty-five. Finnie said: "I thought we were very poor and to be honest, we got an absolute lesson out there." "Losing five goals in the first half-an-hour was very hard to watch and extremely frustrating. All credit to Golspie, who came out flying and took control of the game." "What was really frustrating was some of the goals we lost though and it left us scratching our heads on the sidelines." "I will take my share of the blame as I changed the shape and personnel to try to get minutes into everyone." "All in all, it was a poor day for us but hopefully it will benefit us in the long run and we learn our lessons from it. I will be expecting a good week of training from the boys and a much-improved showing for next week." Finnie handed starts to Darren Mota, Duncan Robertson, Louis Gordon and Kyle MacDonald with Robbie Mackenzie, Ryan Moodie, Nathan Grant and John Grant among the substitutes. Euan Logan missed out through work commitments but there was a first appearance of the season on the bench for Scott Murray after his return from injury. Nairn County Reserves – Gus Wilson, Callum Morrison (John Grant 55), Darren Mota, Scott Mutch, Duncan Robertson, Louis Gordon (Scott Murray 46), Sam Gordon (Ryan Moodie 69), Logan Hallam (Nathan Grant 69), Kieran Duffty, Ciaran Young, Kyle MacDonald (Robbie Mackenzie 46). Subs unused: -. The hosts were in front with less than a minute on the clock with Blair Duncan's deep cross from the left dropping over the head of Nairn goalkeeper, Gus Wilson. A deep free kick from the Golspie right was headed down to Robbie Murray and he sent a volley just past the left-hand post from the edge of the box. We were almost level on 14 minutes. Sam Gordon clipped in an out-swinging free kick from the right which was headed goalwards by Ciaran Young. But the captain's effort was inches too high with the goalkeeper beaten. Young then shrugged off Blair Duncan on 16 minutes as he outmuscled the defender to go in on goal but Jack Duncan in the Golspie goal stood up well to save. The hosts broke up the other end and Liam Bremner was on hand to meet a cross from the left with a tap in from a couple of yards to make it two. Then, on 19 minutes, a corner kick from the Golspie right was allowed to bounce through from Bremner, who again was on hand to knock the ball home from a few yards uncontested. A through pass then sent Bremner racing in on goal three minutes later and he stroked the ball beyond the advancing to make it four and complete a six-minute hat-trick. Nairn looked to stem the tide and Sam Gordon played Logan Hallam through goal. He smashed a powerful shot which was well blocked by Jack Duncan with Golspie breaking up the park to punish Nairn again. Wilson tripped Bremner in the penalty box after Golspie were given far too much space to work the ball from end-to-end in just a couple of passes. Robbie Murray knocked home the spot kick with ease to make it five after just half-an-hour. Nairn adjusted their system after the break and looked more settled without seriously threatening the Golspie goal. It was the hosts who added to the scoring next with this one in somewhat fortunate circumstances on 69 minutes. A corner kick was not dealt with and allowed to run through to Sean Munro. The right back then jinked past two challenges and his shot looked to be flashing across goal and wide until it deflected in off Ryan Moodie. We might have grabbed ourselves a consolation with a couple of late half chances. Robbie Mackenzie won the ball high up the field and fed young on 73 minutes. He did well to turn inside his man but again Jack Duncan excelled as he blocked the striker's effort with an outstretched boot. Then, five minutes from the end, Kieran Duffty won the ball after a sloppy short pass out from the goalkeeper but Duncan denied the Nairn striker as our youngsters drew a blank for the first time this season. The Reserves visit Bonar Bridge on league duty next week in a change to the schedule having been due to host Scourie.
