14 hours ago
A GAME that will not live long in the memory saw Inverurie Locos take all three points thanks to an early goal at Harlaw Park. The hosts started out quickly but the more the half wore on, County started to threaten, although both goalkeepers were rarely troubled throughout the opening 45 minutes. And after the restart, Dylan Maclean was a virtual spectator but Nairn did not threaten home stopper Ryan Booth enough and Locos were able to hold on for the three points. The home side just needed three minutes to take the lead. Colin Charlesworth ran on to a long ball down the right and over the home defence and the wide midfielder poked the ball under the advancing Dylan Maclean. The visitors took 27 minutes to fathom a shot on target after Wayne Mackintosh worked the ball through to Ross Naismith at the edge of the box but his side-footed effort was straight at Ryan Booth. Nairn looked to threaten five minutes into the second half with Kenny McKenzie's low cross from the left just needing a touch to divert it goalwards but it was knocked past for a corner at the far post. Then, on 54 minutes, a Jordan Leyden cross from the left for Inverurie was met by the head of Dean Donaldson but he sent the ball straight into Maclean's arms. County were denied a penalty on 58 minutes with Callum Maclean flicking on Glenn Main's free kick to Jack Maclean. He was flattened in the box but the referee signalled for play to continue with Ross Naismith screwing the loose ball into the side-netting. The visitors continued to push and 65 minutes in, Ross Naismith clipped an out-swinging free kick to the far post but his delivery was just too far in front of the stretching Wayne Mackintosh and Jordan Macrae for them to turn home. Nairn continued to push but Inverurie were happy to sit in and soak up anything the visitors could throw at them. Inverurie Locos – Booth, Rennie, Mitchell, Souter (yellow 38) (Young 69), Crisp, Duff (y 84), Charlesworth (McCabe 63), Donaldson, Hunter (y 29), McLean (y 58), Leyden. Subs unsued: French, Mackie, Mathieson (gk). Nairn County – D. Maclean, S. Mackenzie, C. Maclean, Morganti, Glenn Main, Mackintosh, Naismith (D. Mackenzie 74), K. McKenzie, Kerr, Gregg Main (Macrae 42), J. Maclean. Subs unused: Ednie, R. Macleod (gk). Referee – Chris Fordyce. Graeme Macleod
