July 15th 2024
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 2 – 0 LOSSIEMOUTH
SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2023
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goalscorers: Conor Gethins (19), Ciaran Young (40)
Royal British Legion Nairn County Man of the Match: Kenny McKenzie
County began their latest league encounter with Callum Howarth starting alongside war horse Ross Tokely after Fraser Dingwall failed a late fitness test. Conor Gethins replaced youngster Sam Gordon in attack, in an otherwise unchanged side from the one that drew with Fraserburgh, at Bellslea, seven days earlier.
The first half saw County hold the upper-hand throughout, with the visitors seen little in an attacking sense. Flying winger Andrew Greig was causing all sorts of problems early on, and his cross from the byeline almost produced the opener after just eight minutes.
He raced onto a superb diagonal pass from Ross Tokely, before rounding Michael Weir and dinking a cross to the far post, with Scott Davidson only inches away from applying the finish for the opener.
The pressure was continuing to build on the visitors, with the home side getting in behind the Coasters rear-guard repeatedly. That pressure finally told after 18 minutes, when Andrew Greig flighted a cross into the six yard box, and comeback man Conor Gethins applied the finish with a superb header. For his 198th goal for the Station Park side.
19' Goal for Nairn! Conor Gethins hits his 198th Nairn goal to break the deadlock.
🟡 1-0 🔵 pic.twitter.com/9eNNg1FSw9
— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) January 28, 2023
The visitors countered, and Dylan Maclean had to get down well to make a fine save from a Liam Archibald on the edge of the box. Back came the home side, neat build up involving man of the match Kenny McKenzie, and Angus Dey ended with the former just failing to make contact to increase his side’s advantage.
With five minutes of the first half remaining the home side doubled their advantage with an effort of real quality. Kenny McKenzie raced to the byeline, and stood a cross up for youngster Ciaran Young to connect with a scissor kick and smash home a quite superb effort to give them a two goal cushion at the break.
Yesterday’s stunning strike from Ciaran Young 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#ncfc #nairncounty #ItsaNairnThing pic.twitter.com/1ushwJfJuh
— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) January 29, 2023
The second period saw the home side continue to press, with excellent saves from Cameron Farquhar denying efforts from Conor Gethins and Scott Davidson in quick succession as the home side looked to finish the match by a bigger margin.
Ciaran Young nearly scored a second scissor kick of the game in the second half but it went wide of the goal. Nairn had a decent shout for a penalty when man of the match Kenny McKenzie played a one-two on the edge of the box and as he knocked the ball past the diving Farquhar, he appeared to be taken down by the visiting goalkeeper however the referee awarded a goal kick.
County are in good shape as they head to Strathspey Thistle at the weekend. With one defeat in their last twelve matches they will start as favourites.
NAIRN COUNTY: Dylan Maclean: Cameron Lisle, Stephen Rennie, Ross Tokely, Callum Howarth, Angus Dey, Kenny McKenzie, Scott Davidson (Sam Gordon 68), Andrew Greig (Aidan Cruickshank 72), Conor Gethins, Ciaran Young (Kenny MacInnes 58)
Subs not used: Wayne MacKintosh, Steven Mackay, Lewis Munro (gk)
LOSSIEMOUTH: C.Farquhar: M.Weir, J.Leslie, J.Kennedy, D.Stewart: R.Farquhar, L.Archibald, N.Kennedy, R.Stuart (R.Morrison 80): A.Macleod (R.Archibald 71) F.Forbes (B.Campbell 56):
Subs not used: R.Elliott, L.McAndrew, J.McArthur, K.Morrison
Match Referee: Gordon Morrison
