September 3rd 2026
SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP SECOND ROUND
NAIRN COUNTY 1 – 2 TURRIFF UNITED
SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2025
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goal Scorers: Ben Barron (63′ pen); Miller Keir (20′ pen), Owen Kinsella (44′)
Ralph Sayer Man of the Match: Jamie Carnihan
Match Report by John Dolan
A disappointing showing from Nairn saw them crash out of this year’s Scottish Cup.
Trailing by two goals at the break they got back into the game thanks to a Ben Barron penalty with half an hour still to play. The goal galvanised his side, but the visitors held out for a deserved win – and just a few weeks after they were on the receiving end of a 3-0 thrashing at Station Park in a Highland League fixture.
County, however, didn’t help themselves and with just a few minutes to go, and pushing for an equaliser, some indiscipline from Fraser Dingwall saw the Nairn captain red carded.
And things went from bad to worse in added time when Gary Pullen was also shown a straight red.
County started the game well enough, but it would be the visitors who would eventually take control.
Sixteen minutes on the clock and a long ball out of the United defence looked to have put Miller Keir in on goal, but Dingwall’s timely intervention denied the striker.
But four minutes later the visitors were ahead when Jamie Carnihan upended Murray Cormack in the box and Keir stepped up to give Lewis Munro no chance from the spot.
Nairn replied when a great through ball from Tyler Eadie put Calum Mackay in on goal, but his tame shot was easily gathered by Lee Herbert.
Turriff almost doubled their lead in 35 minutes when Glen Donald’s header was cleared off the line.
The visitors again went close a minute later when Sam Garnham burst into the box, but his shot was blocked by Munro before spinning back towards the goal; however, Carnihan’s scissor kick clearance stopped a certain goal.
County were feeling the pressure and another goal line clearance from Carnihan denied the visitors – this time booting clear Owen Kinsella’s shot from just outside the box.
But a minute before the break Nairn conceded again.
Keiran Yeats was fouled by Eadie and Kinsella buried the free kick into the bottom corner of Munro’s goal from 22 yards. (H-T 0-2.)
After the break, Wayne Mackintosh introduced Ben Barron for Charlie Mackenzie and the big striker almost made an immediate impact when he found space on the edge of the box to get a shot away, but Herbert was equal to the task, pulling off a fine save to his right.
At the other end, another goal-bound Donald effort was blocked. And minutes later a Yeats free kick from 25 yards was destined for the top corner, but Munro did just enough to get a hand to it and knock it onto the frame before gathering.
But the break Nairn was looking for arrived in 63 minutes when Kinsella handled in the box and the ref again pointed to the spot.
Barron stepped up to blast the ball into the bottom corner.
Turriff were inches away from restoring their two-goal lead when Kacper Lewecki’s header off a Yeats free kick flashed just wide.
County raced up the park and a great ball into the box from Andrew Greig looked to be destined for the head of Brindle, but the striker failed to make contact and a golden opportunity to pull his side level was gone.
With just a few minutes left to play, as Nairn pushed just about everyone into the Turriff box anticipating a long throw-in, the ref showed Dingwall a red card for violent conduct.
And a miserable afternoon for Nairn was capped with seconds remaining when Pullen was sent off for a boot to the head of keeper Herbert as he went to ground.
NAIRN COUNTY – Munro, Carnihan, K. McKenzie, Gamble, Dingwall (C) (red 88), Eadie (Pullen 67 (r90+2)), Mackay (yellow 83), C. McKenzie (Barron 45), Brindle, Voigt (y58) (Kelly 58), Greig. Substitutes not used – C. Maclean, As-Chainey, Bain, Thomson, Dey, D. Maclean (gk).
TURRIFF UNITED – Herbert, S. Robertson, Yeats, Watt (C), Donald, Kinsella, Cormack (yellow 57) (MacLean 85), Lewecki, Keir (Taylor 81), E. Robertson, Garnahm (Fatona 89). Substitutes not used – Reid, Douglas, Sopel, Souden, Thompson.
Referee – Thomas Denholm.
County are again at home next Saturday (Nov 1) when title-chasing Brechin City are the visitors in SHFL.
Match sponsor – Ashers Bakery
