January 3rd 2025
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 2-3 ROTHES
FRIDAY 16TH AUGUST 2024
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goal Scorers: Scott Lisle (‘8), Matthew Wright (‘27); Ross Logan (‘40, ’57), Jake Thomson (’80)
Match Report by Thomas Altheron
A cold August evening at Station Park was the backdrop to an entertaining, yet disappointing 3-2 loss for The Wee County. While Nairn went two goals in front, a resilient Rothes side ended up taking the three points.
The game started off with a lot of ambition from Ross Tokely’s team who were playing in their special Mikeysline third shirt for the first time. The passing and build up play was impressive and eventually led to a shot from Scott Lisle, just being deflected past the post for a corner. It wouldn’t take long for the deadlock to be broken however, as in the 8th minute, Scott Lisle scored a cracking outside the box goal, on his home debut for Nairn County.
After the restart, Nairn looked like they were growing in confidence with pressure being piled onto the Rothes defence. A few chances came Nairn’s way including a header from Matthew Wright, just hopping over the bar. Scott Lisle had another opportunity which was always going to be difficult as it was from a tight angle, again going over the bar. Gary Kerr also headed the ball which seemed for a moment to trouble the Rothes keeper before being cleared.
Soon after in the 27th minute, a truly tremendous shot from Matthew Wright put Nairn 2 goals up and made the top right corner of net jolt. The next 13 minutes were fairly equal with Nairn still being the team on the front foot. However, in the 40th minute a lovely piece of skill quickly followed by an audacious shot flew past Dylan MacLean as Rothes’s Ross Logan scored and kept the Speysiders in it. Not long after the half time whistle blew.
Despite first half domination from Nairn, the second half would see the pendulum swing in favour of Rothes. Right from kick off, Rothes seemed to show a lot more intent and piled pressure on the County defence. Rothes’s Ross Logan had a major opportunity, showing some lovely skill and just pulling his shot wide of the post. Not long after in the 57th minute, Ross Logan would score another incredible goal from just outside the box, giving Dylan MacLean no chance of saving.
Even though Nairn had suffered a major setback, the lead was almost restored when Ben Barron had a free header from a corner and unfortunately just narrowly missed the goal. It was then Rothes’s turn to have a big chance with Ruari Duncan just pulling a shot wide from inside the box. As the clock passed the 80 minute mark, the ball was played out wide where former Elgin City player Jake Thomson slotted the ball in the bottom right of the net to turnaround the game completely. While Nairn would go on to have a few more chances, it was ultimately too late and the full time whistle blew with Rothes winning 3-2.
Up next for The Wee County is a home fixture up against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the North of Scotland Cup this Tuesday. Nairn will be looking to defend the trophy that they won last season.
Nairn County: Dylan Maclean, Jamie Carnihan, Fraser Dingwall (C), Alister Morrison, Kenny McKenzie, Jamie Williamson (Wayne Mackintosh 71), Alan Pollock (Angus Dey 83), Ben Barron (Sam Gordon 83) Gary Kerr (Andrew Greig 64), Matthew Wright, Scott Lisle
Subs Unused: Munro (GK), Jonathan Bain, Callum MacLean, Alasdair Gillies, Ben Kelly
Rothes: McCarthy (GK), Mitchell, McDade (C), Young, Mutch, McConachie, Thomson, Alonge, Duncan, Logan, Boyce
Subs: Adams, Shepherd, Cruickshank, Dawson
Match Referee: Kevin Murray
