July 15th 2024
NAIRN County had the tables turned on them by Deveronvale at Station Park as they netted the only goal of the game a minute into the second half to clinch all three points. It was roles reversed from the meeting between the two clubs at Banff in August where Nairn took all three points with a 1-0 win and a goal scored on the same minute as this afternoon’s ‘Vale strike. Cohen Ramsay’s early free kick flashed into the arms of Grant Pennet before Matthew Wallace worked some space for a 20-yard grounder which bobbled just past James Kendall’s right-hand post as both side’s searched for an early breakthrough. County’s defensive line was caught out on 31 minutes with Robert Scott advancing in behind before blasting a first time effort goalwards. But Kendall stood up well to make a solid block and keep the game goalless. Dey found himself in on goal from the right and looked to pick Ramsay out with a low ball across goal. But the wide man was crowded out and unable to force the ball home from close range, with Pennet gathering. The visitors almost found an opener a minute before the break with Matthew Wallace meeting Harry Noble’s corner from the right with a close-range header. But Kendall reacted well to make a one-handed save and gather the ball. Deveronvale opened the scoring just a minute into the second half. Cohen Ramsay gave the ball away in front of the home dugout with the visitors sending Jody Munro in down the right. His low ball across was ahead of the stretching defenders and found the unmarked Robert Scott at the far post with the attacker making no mistake has he netted a simple tap in. The visitors almost added a second a minute before the hour-mark with Grant Noble having the space to clip a ball from the right edge of the box towards the far post for Harry Noble to run on to but he sent his first-time volley over the crossbar. Nairn pushed for a leveller and almost found it six minutes from the end with Porritt pulling the ball back from the left to Callum Ednie at the corner of the box. But his side-footer flew just over the crossbar at the near post. Any hope County had of salvaging a draw disappeared up the tunnel with Adam Porritt in the first minute of injury time. He was sent off for jumping into a challenge with Lewis Dunbar and catching the full back. Nairn continued to throw bodies forward but their poor afternoon was summed up when Callum Maclean’s blast from just outside the box struck his teammate Adam Naismith and with it the Banffers sent their boisterous support home happy. Nairn County – Kendall, Ednie, A. Naismith, Callum Maclean, Glenn Main, Porritt, MacDonald (yellow 75), Urquhart (K. McKenzie 68), D. Mackenzie (McConaghy 56), Dey (Ewan 56), Ramsay. Subs unused: Dingwall, Maclennan, J. Maclean, D. Maclean (gk). Deveronvale – Pennet, Dunbar, Noble (yellow 83), Adams, Dunn, Willox, Robertson, Wallace, Scott, Noble, Munro. Subs unused: Middler, Ballard, Stewart, Gauld, Blanchard (gk). Referee – Alan Proctor. Graeme Macleod
