October 5th 2026
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 1 -1 DEVERONVALE
WEDNESDAY 30TH JULY 2025
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goalscorers: Ryan Park OG (65′); Fergus Alberts (22′)
Ralph Sayer Man of the Match: Calum Mackay
Match Report by John Dolan
County welcomed Deveronvale to Station Park for their first home game of the 2025/26 Breedon Highland League season – and looking to bounce back from their opening day loss at Buckie when a goal in injury time consigned the 10 men to a hard-to-take defeat.
County suffered a setback on Wednesday even before a ball was kicked in earnest when Angus Dey picked up an injury during the warm up and was replaced by Charlie McKenzie.
After a quiet start, Nairn threatened in 11 minutes when Sammy Gordon picked out Ben Barron, but he lost possession as he tried to beat his man. The ball then broke to Ben Kelly who put in a powerful drive, but it was diverted wide.
Vale replied with Adam Reid finding space to test Dylan MacLean.
Barron then turned his marker beautifully before spreading the ball wide to Gordon, but he had drifted offside, putting an end to a promising break.
A Fraser Dingwall header off a corner almost found its way past the Vale keeper, but the visitors eventually managed to scramble clear.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in 22 minutes when Fergus Alberts out-muscled Brodie Watson on the edge of the area and the big Vale striker made no mistake drilling the ball beyond a helpless MacLean.
The Nairn keeper then pulled off a fine low save to stop the visitors stretching their lead when he got down to keep out Ryan Park’s drive from 20 yards.
And Vale went close again when Alberts put in a terrific low ball across the face of the goal, but there was too much power on it for Stewart Gray to connect, just a few yards out.
County threatened just before the break when Jamie Carnihan left a couple of Vale men trailing as he cut in from the right before going for goal; however, his effort rolled just wide of the far post.
Barron then passed up the best chance of the half for the home side when a sclaffed clearance found its way to him. The big striker initially controlled well, but then fired over from just a few yards. (H-T 0-1.)
County had a half chance not long after the restart, but Barron snatched at his shot and ended up pulling it well wide of target.
At the other end, a low drive from Gray made it through a ruck of players before MacLean gathered at the second attempt.
But a bizarre own goal in 65 minutes had County level.
R. Park attempted to clear after keeper Ethan Hopkinson managed to get a strong hand to the ball; however, the striker somehow contrived to slice the ball into the empty net.
Alberts then passed up a decent chance for Vale, after being picked out by Gray, but the striker’s shot on the turn, with only MacLean in front of him, went well wide.
With 78 minutes on the clock, Calum Mackay tried his luck from 22 yards, but Hopkinson was able to parry. The ball again broke to Mackay and this time his shot shaved the outside of the post.
Barron then connected perfectly with substitute Finn As-Chainey’s cross, but a defender managed to block.
The goal had certainly galvanised the home side and Barron had the ball in the net with five minutes to go, but the flag had gone up.
In one last chance, As-Chainey picked out Barron racing through but the Vale keeper was alert to the danger and managed to snuff out the threat – and, with it, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
NAIRN COUNTY – D. MacLean, Carnihan, Voigt, Watson, Dingwall (c) (Bain 74), Eadie (yellow 84), Mackay, C. McKenzie (C. MacLean 66), Barron, Kelly (Brindle 84), Gordon (As-Chainey 66). Substitutes not used – Trialist, Munro (gk).
DEVERONVALE – Hopkinson, Goldie (yellow 61), Esson, Bradford, Maclellan (c) (Watson 85), S. Gray, Sparkes, Alberts, R. Park (y65) (Duglosz 75), Reid (Angus 60). Substitutes not used – L. Gray, N. Park, Mitchell, Binnie, Stewart, McIntosh (gk).
On Saturday, County welcome Clachnacuddin to Station Park for an SHFL fixture. Clach arrive having won their opening two league fixtures. Kick off 3pm.
