October 9th 2026
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 1 – 2 FORRES MECHANICS
WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST 2026
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goal Scorers: Aidan Wilson (22′); Ryan MacLeman (16′ & 18′)
Ralph Sayer Man of the Match: Tom McHale
Match Report by John Dolan
Two rapid-fire goals early in the first half set up The Can Cans for all three points in Wednesday night’s very wet derby at Station Park. Aidan Wilson, signed on loan for a month from Brora Rangers, pulled a goal back for Nairn midway through the first half, but over the piece, it was the Nairn shot stopper Tom McHale who would be the busier of the two keepers.
County also included new signing Max Ewan, returning to the club he left for Brora five years ago.
As the rain lashed down, a free kick in 12 minutes saw Nairn go close. Calum MacKay’s effort from 25 yards looked to take a wee nick on the way in, forcing keeper Sean McCarthy to dive low to his left to keep it out.
But it was the visitors who took the lead four minutes later when Ellis Leighton’s clever pass picked out Ryan MacLeman who turned his marker inside the box before picking his spot just inside McHale’s right-hand upright.
It was 2-0 in 18 minutes thanks to some sloppy defending, which was capitalised on by MacLeman who beat one man before slipping the ball into the bottom corner.
Some crazy defending at the other end saw Nairn pull a goal back in 22 minutes.
The Mechanics failed to clear their line and Wilson had a simple tap-in from close range, while the visitors’ defence stood looking for a flag that never came.
A free kick from Mackay fizzed across the Forres goal, but there were no takers. Forres then broke upfrield and Calum Frame burst into the box, but the striker pulled his shot wide.
As half-time approached, Ewan then went close to his first goal on his return when MacKay picked him out wide on the right. He then turned inside before getting his shot on target, but McCarthy got down to smother. (H-T 1-2.).
After the break, Forres went close when Matt Jamieson got a shot away, which McHale didn’t know a much about, but did just enough to deflect it over for a corner.
At the other end MacKay got on the end of Ewan cross, It looked goal bound until taking a deflection for a corner.
A good delivery from Ewan Neil saw Millar Gamble’s timely intervention take the ball off Frame’s toe with only the keeper in front of him. MacLeman looked odds on for his hat-trick on the hour when Frame put him in on goal, but McHale produced a terrific blocking save.
It was end-to-end action now and a few minutes later Wilson, unmarked, fired over from the edge of the box.
Forres replied with Mark McLaughlan twice having shots blocked inside the area.
Fraser Dingwall then came to his side’s resuce with a goalline clearance. The ball broke for Jamieson on the edge of the box, but McHale did well to block, but the ball spun free and looked to be sneaking in at the near post, until the Nairn captain stepped in to sweep it away.
With 78 minutes played MacLeman again went close to his hat-trick when he rattled the frame with a 20-yard free kick.
Seconds later and Jamieson put in a great delivery for Frame. It only needed a touch, but the striker let the ball flash past him.
With three minuites to go McHale failed to cut out a corner and the ball crashed off substitute Sam Reid at the back post, but luckily for Nairn it rolled inches wide of the upright.
And deep into added time, confusion in the Nairn defence saw the ball fall to MacLeman, but again McHale excelled, pulling off another terrific blocking save.
And as the visitors finished with a flourish, a free kick from Frame was saved by McHale. The ball fournd the head of Kyle MacLeod, but he headed over from close range.
It would be last piece of action in a game that had plenty to keep fans interested, but over the piece it was the Mechanics who had done just enough to secure all three points and maintain their unbeaten start to the SHFL season.
NAIRN COUNTY – McHale, Carnihan, Gamble, Dingwall, MacKay, Wilson, Thomson, Ewan, Eadie (Dey 87 (yellow 90+3)), K. McKenzie (y43) (Voigt 87), Walker. Substitutes not used – McInnes, Bain, Brindle, MacKintosh, Munro, Munro (gk).
FORRES MECHANICS – McCarthy, Leighton, Neil, Sutherland (yellow 58) (Grant 73), Bremner, MacLeman, McLeod (y77), Frame, MacKenzie (Reid 67), Jamieson, (Harkness 90+3) McLaughlan (y89). Substitutes not used – Hayllar, MacPherson, Ferguson, Finlayson, Harkness, Taylor, Miele (gk).
Referee – Darren Munro
