July 15th 2024
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 3 – 0 BANKS O’DEE
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 2023
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goalscorers: Kenny McKenzie (17), Ross Tokely (22), Andrew Greig (42)
Royal British Legion Man of the Match: Ross Tokely
An explosive opening forty five minutes from the home side blew away any hopes of Banks O’Dee clawing their way back into the match.
Manager Steven Mackay named the same starting eleven who had defeated Clachnacuddin five days earlier. Dee lined up with former Formartine United and Ross County midfielder Paul Lawson anchoring the visitors engine room. This was the first meeting between the teams at Station Park.
The home side opened on the offensive with the visitors seen little in an attacking sense. A fine move involving Andrew Greig and the impressive Angus Dey ended with the former knocking a right foot effort wide of the far post.
The home side continued to push forward at every opportunity and they were rewarded after 17 minutes. Kenny McKenzie and winger Andrew Greig combined down the left, with McKenzie racing onto a superb through ball to beat the advancing Ross Salmon with a superb left foot finish for the opener.
The home side had their tails up, and they deservedly doubled their lead with a goal of real quality midway through the first period. The visitors failed to clear following a corner the clearance was met by Ross Tokely who swept a superb 25 yard volley high into the net before the keeper could move.
The visitors were failing to gather any momentum and any sort of foot hold in the match, and they fell further behind with three minutes of the first period remaining. Again the damage was done the left flank, and when Andrew Greig took a pass at the edge of the box – his superbly struck right foot effort curled home at the far post – with Salmon beat all ends up.
In contrast, the second period saw the visitors start on the front foot, with Magnus Watson in particular showing his pace down the right flank, however, found Stephen Rennie in fine form.
Three minutes into the second period a Nairn counter attack ended with an Andrew Greig cross being knocked against the base of the post by Scottie Davidson, with Ross Salmon beaten.
Six minutes later, a long through ball from man of the match, Ross Tokely saw Scott Davidson race clear with the Dee keeper racing from his area. The striker touched the ball past the keeper, but watched agonisingly as his effort carried just wide of the post.
Twelve minutes from time the home side almost added a fourth when Angus Dey was unlucky with an effort from the edge of the box, that brought an excellent save from the keeper at full stretch.
Overall this was a superb win for the County who, particularly during the opening period. Too a man they played their part in what was a tremendous result. The three goals were superbly executed with Ross Tokely’s in particular definitely a contender for goal of the season.
The unbeaten run is extended to nine matches. Second placed Buckie Thistle are the visitors to Station Park this weekend, the scene is set for a cracking encounter.
NAIRN COUNTY: Dylan Maclean: Callum Maclean, Stephen Rennie, Ross Tokely, Fraser Dingwall: Wayne Mackintosh, Sam Gordon (Aidan Cruickshank 60) Angus Dey, Kenny McKenzie (Liam Shewan 85) Ciaran Young (Scott Davidson 33) Andrew Greig:
Subs not used: Cameron Lisle, Lewis Mitchell, Steven MacKay, Lewis Munro (gk)
BANKS O’DEE: R.Salmon: A.Stark, J.Selbie, K.Lewecki, N.Allen (H.Macleod 70) P.Lawson (M.Phillipson 46) M.Watson, M.Wallace, J.Henderson (L.Macleod 64) M.Gilmour, R.Armstrong
Subs not used: C.Macaskill, M.Robertson, L.Crosbie, A.Shearer (gk)
Match Referee: Gordon Morrison
