November 20th 2023
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 0 – 0 BRECHIN CITY
SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2023
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Royal British Legion Nairn County Man of the Match: Ross Tokely
With only one defeat in their last thirteen league matches, Nairn County went into their league encounter with unbeaten Brechin City with an air of confidence in front of a large vocal support at Station Park. The home side lined up without the influential pair of Scott Davidson and Andrew Greig as they went looking to maintain that impressive run of results.
The opening exchanges very much saw the home side as the early aggressors, and they almost broke the deadlock after just six minutes. Conor Gethins raced onto a through ball, and as Wilson advanced from his area, lobbed the loose ball over the advancing keeper, however, youngster Sam Gordon headed the loose ball over the bar from close range.
Seven minutes later, the visitors had another let-off, when midfield man Kenny McKenzie burst into the box, his left foot drive looked net bound until Wilson got down superbly to push the effort away to safety at full stretch.
Fraser Dingwall – captain, leader, legend.#ncfc #nairncounty #ItsaNairnThing pic.twitter.com/nzeVjkUChF
— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) February 11, 2023
The home side continued to hold the upper-hand, with the visitors at this point seen little in an attacking sense, indeed, even midway through the first period there seemed to be an air of frustration creeping into their play.
However, after 27 minutes, the Glebe Park side finally clicked into life. A fine move down the right flank ended with Marc Scott firing in a flashing left foot drive, that brought an equally fine save from Dylan Maclean.
Three minutes later, a faulty pass back from Calum Howarth, presented Brechin striker Botti Biabi with a clear sight on goal, but under pressure from Dylan Maclean at the edge of the box, shot over the bar.
Three minutes after the resumption County were again on the offensive. Youngster Sam Gordon weaved his way into the box following a mazy run, but was denied the opener following a fine block from Lenny Wilson.
Five minutes later the home side went close again, this time man of the match Ross Tokely scooped an effort over the crossbar following a goalmouth melee. Back came the visitors and Dylan Maclean pulled of a superb save to deny substitute Calum Ferguson.
The match was now being played at break neck pace, with a number of heavy challenges as the visitors frustration continued to grow, and the home side’s pressure continued. An incident involving Nairn County skipper Fraser Dingwall and City defender Kevin McHattie ended with the pair being booked following a clash at a corner.
The home side were now totally committed to attack with the visitors goal under siege constantly as the home side looked for that late winner.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Today’s Nairn County Man of the Match was Ross Tokely. He was presented with his prize by Stewart Murdoch and his guests, who enjoyed Stewart’s stag party at Station Park today.#ncfc #nairncounty #ItsaNairnThing pic.twitter.com/cAw4jIVxgo
— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) February 11, 2023
With the match deep into injury time, the visitors hopes of securing the points were virtually ended when former Hearts & Inverness Caledonian Thistle defender Kevin McHattie received a second yellow card and was sent packing by referee Gordon Morrison for remarks reportedly made to the stand-side linesman.
Nairn County produced probably their best performance of the season. To a man they were quite superb, they were concentrated throughout, stuck to their tasks, giving second placed Brechin City no time on the ball to settle or create opportunities. The only thing lacking in what was a thoroughly entertaining ninety minutes was a goal to put the seal on a superb performance. For a goalless draw this encounter had something for everyone who witnessed it.
NAIRN COUNTY: Dylan Maclean: Callum MacLean, Callum Howarth, Ross Tokely, Fraser Dingwall, Angus Dey, Kenny MacInnes (Steven Mackay 74), Wayne Mackintosh, Sam Gordon, Kenny MacKenzie, Conor Gethins (Ciaran Young 80)
Subs not used: Aidan Cruickshank, Stephen Rennie, Cameron Lisle, Reid Peterkin (gk)
BRECHIN CITY: Wilson: Bain, McHattie, Koutsimouka, Cooney, Scott, McGrath (Loudon 53) Inglis, MacLeod, Biabi (Ferguson 66) Northcott
Subs not used: McDonald, M.Cruickshank, Naglik, Thomson, Easton
Match Referee: Gordon Morrison
