7 hours ago
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 2 – 2 KEITH
SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2023
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goalscorers: Scott Davidson (55), Conor Gethins (74 pen); Liam Duncan (24), James Brownie (66)
Royal British Legion Nairn County Man of the Match: Conor Gethins
Nairn County secured a hard-fought share of the points from their meeting with second bottom Keith at Station Park. Steven Mackay’s side twice came from behind to earn themselves a share of the points in a match that particularly during the first period was a tousy affair with a number of niggly fouls with match referee Gordon Seago a busy man throughout, brandishing numerous yellow cards.
The match was also a personal triumph for County striker Conor Gethins, who netted a second half penalty, and in doing so, netted his 200th goal for the Station Park side.
The moment Conor Gethins became only the second player in history to reach 200 Nairn County goals 🙌🏻 Full match highlights to come.#ncfc #nairncounty #ItsaNairnThing pic.twitter.com/pqiANkVu7N
— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) April 2, 2023
The match opened with very little between the respective side’s given their league position. However, the match burst into life after 19 minutes. Good build up from the home side on the edge of the visitors box, ended with Conor Gethins firing just beyond the fire post – after being put through by Scottie Davidson.
The visitors finally kicked into life minutes later, when a diagonal ball into the box released Michael Ironside, who with time and space should have done better, and only a fine block from Dylan Maclean kept the scoreline blank.
Two minutes later saw the visitors make the breakthrough when Referee Seago awarded the Maroons a spot-kick. When the dust had settled, Liam Duncan stepped up to fire home the resultant spot kick to give the Kynoch Park side a narrow interval lead.
The home side started the second period with the bit between their teeth and were deservedly level eight minutes after the restart. The visitors failed to clear their lines effectively following sustained pressure and Scottie Davidson lashed home a superb left foot effort from eight yards to restore parity.
The visitors responded, and thirteen minutes later regained the lead in some style. Skipper James Brownie took a pass on the edge of the box, and beat keeper Dylan Maclean with a superbly struck effort that found the postage stamp corner of the net.
The home side came roaring back and came close to levelling after 65 minutes, and only a timely challenge from Murray Addison denied Scott Davidson his second of the match.
The home side continued to press, and deservedly levelled for the second time after 73 minutes. A powerful run by youngster Matthew Strachan down the left flank saw the full back race into the box and cut the ball back into the area where Referee Gordon Seago judged that defender Lewis Coull had handled in the area, pointing immediately to the penalty spot.
The resultant spot kick was swept home by Conor Gethins, for his 200th County career goal for the Station Park side.
From this point County took a stranglehold on proceedings with the visitors being pushed back continually. Keith keeper Craig Reid was a busy man in the closing stages, and he kept his side in the match – denying efforts from Davidson, Gethins and substitute Ciaran Young in quick succession.
An outstanding achievement from one of the best finishers around, well done Gezza👏👏 ⚽️ ⚽️ https://t.co/R4vajZF7zH
— Steven Mackay (@Sid_Mackay) April 1, 2023
The final opportunity fell to Ciaran Young deep into injury time when he narrowly headed over from a Matthew Strachan cross.
With three matches remaining, County still have room to improve their current League position and Manager Steve Mackay is sure to be impressing this point to his team – beginning with the home encounter against Clach on Saturday.
NAIRN COUNTY: Maclean, Lisle (Dey) Strachan, Tokely, Dingwall, MacKintosh, MacKenzie, MacInnes (Young) Gethins, Davidson, Gillies
Subs not used: Howarth, Gordon, Rennie, Cruickshank, Munro (gk)
KEITH: Reid, Addison, Murray, Yunus, Coull, Yeats, Killoh, Brownie, Tough (Wilson) Ironside, Duncan (Hutcheon)
Subs not used: Cumming, McKeown, Robertson, Irvine
Match Referee: Gordon Seago
