December 5th 2023
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 2 – 2 DEVERONVALE
SATURDAY 20 AUGUST 2022
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goalscorers: Scott Davidson (16), Young (89); Noble (76), Tinnock (90+3)
Royal British Legion Man of the Match: Adam Porritt
County came within seconds of securing their opening league win of the season when they entertained Deveronvale on league duty, at Station Park. However, a late effort from substitute Jamie Tinnock saw the Banff side leave with a share of the points to deny the home side their first win.
Ronnie Sharp’s men began the match by making two changes from the side that had lost to Formartine United seven days earlier. Conor Gethins and John Grant coming into the starting line-up while Sam Gordon dropped to the bench, Nathan Grant missed out through injury.
County opened on the front foot and came close to breaking the deadlock as early as the second minute. Conor Gethins raced onto a through ball from Angus Dey, however, his right foot effort from the edge of the box drifted beyond the far post with keeper McIntosh looking on.
Nine minutes later, the home side came even closer to making the breakthrough when a Gethins knock down released Scott Davidson, but his spectacular overhead kick beat the keeper, but came crashing back of the crossbar.
The striker had better luck, four minutes later, when Andrew Greig weaved his way into the box, and his deft cross saw Scott Davidson climb above the Vale defence to head a spectacular opener.
With the home side looking to increase their advantage, Andrew Greig almost made it 2-0, with a scorching right foot effort from a 20 yard free-kick.
Vale retaliated; however, they missed a gilt-edged opportunity to level the match when Bashua failed to connect on the six yard line, following a Dane Ballard pass.
The home side had a let off five minutes from the interval, when the visitors were awarded a penalty after Nairn full back Kenny Mackenzie had upended Dane Ballard in the box. County keeper Dylan Maclean dived full length to deny the striker from the resultant spot kick, with Ballard firing wide from the rebound.
Back came the home side, and two minutes later Conor Gethins sent a wickedly struck free kick that beat the Vale keeper but came crashing back of the face of the crossbar.
The second period opened with the home side continuing to press forward at every opportunity. Midway through the half, they almost added to their lead. An Angus Dey effort ricochet across the Vale box to the unmarked Scott Davidson, who was left with McIntosh to beat, however, the keeper produced an excellent save to deny the striker.
A minute later, Davidson raced onto a through ball to the edge of the box, but the Vale keeper again denied the striker with a fine one-handed save.
Those missed opportunities were to prove costly for the home side, when after 76 minutes the visitors drew level. Vale striker Dane Ballard made up for his earlier penalty miss when he swept home the equaliser from the edge of the box.
Three minutes later the alert Scott Davidson ran onto a Ciaran Young through ball, however, the Vale keeper was alert to the danger, clearing from the striker at the edge of his area.
The home side sensationally regained the lead with a minute of normal time remaining. Substitute Ciaran Young taking a pass from Davidson in his stride to run on and beat McIntosh all ends up with a superb left foot drive.
Nairn hearts were broken when in injury time Vale substitute Jamie Tinnock scored an overhead kick with the last kick of the game to deny the home side their first win of the season.
NAIRN COUNTY: Dylan Maclean, Cameron Lisle, Kenny Mackenzie (Trialist 57), Adam Porritt, John Grant, Glenn Main, Andrew Greig (Ciaran Young 76), Angus Dey (Gordon McNab 79), Conor Gethins, Scott Davidson, Liam Shewan
Subs unused: Will Counsell (GK) Sam Gordon, Seamus McConaghy, Rory Williamson.
DEVERONVALE: McIntosh, B.Allan, Noble, R.Allan, McKay, Bradford, Jamieson, Bashua, Ballard, Imbert-Thomas (G.Noble 67) McKillop-Hall (Tinnock 83)
Subs unused: Shingler, Jam, Davidson, Angus and Stewart
Match Referee: Mr B. Baxter (Inverness)
