3 hours ago
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 4 – 0 FORRES MECHANICS
SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 2025
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goal Scorers: Angus Dey (21′), Ben Barron (66′ & 74′), Finn As-Chainey (90+1′)
Ralph Sayer Man of the Match: Sam Gordon
Match Report by John Dolan
A double from Ben Barron along with goals from Angus Dey and Finn As-Chainey set up Nairn for a deserved win in Saturday’s derby at Station Park.
County were again missing a number of key players and could list only three outfield players on the subs’ bench. And boss Wayne Mackintosh couldn’t name himself among the subs after his sending off at Brora last week.
The visitors edged the opening exchanges and, six minuts in, Lewis Mackenzie was fouled wide on the right by Sammy Gordon. Former Nairn man Cohen Ramsay flighted in the free kick. It found Charlie Macdonald, but his volley went well over.
County replied when Ben Kelly fed Ben Barron, however, his low delivery was just a whisker away from finding the unmarked Calum Mackay.
The home side then took the lead in 21 minutes when Gordon’s pip-point cross found the head of Dey, unmarked six yards out, and he had no trouble finding the back of the net.
Shaun Sutherland and Matt Jamieson combined well on the left for Forres before the latter picked out the Callum Frame, in acres of space, but his header went woefully wide.
Mechanics captain Jack Grant was then sent off two minutes before the break when he picked up his second yellow of the day for his challenge on Mackay.
County had gradually taken control of the game after they scored and were worth their lead at the break, whereas the visitors, after a bright start, lost their way after the goal. (H-T 1-0.)
County were on the front foot straight after the break and a great ball from Callum Maclean picked out Gordon flying down the left, but there were no takers for his inviting ball into the area.
Sam Nixon lost sight of the ball in the box and it fell kindly for Barron who teed up Mackay, but his shot was blocked.
A fine Gordon delivery found Barron, but the big striker was denied by a timely intervention from Kaiden Connolly and the chance was lost.
Seconds later Sean McCarthy in the Forres goal got down at his near post to keep out Mackay’s header from a Kelly cross.
And Kelly wasn’t far away himself in 64 minutes with a shot that was heading into the top corner but McCarthy was well placed to gather.
The home side were on top and they were rewarded in 66 minutes with a slick goal.
Kelly picked out Mackay on the edge of the box and his neat flick past a Forres man put Barron clear and he did the rest, sweeping the ball past McCarthy
And it got better for the Wee County when Gordon was brought down in the box in 74 minutes by Sutherland and Barron lazered the spot kick into the bottom corner..
And Nairn well and truly wrapped it up when a careless ball from Connolly was capitalised by As-Chainey who stepped forward to round the exposed keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net for his first goal in Nairn colours.
And it was almost five, but McCarthy got down to smother Mackay’s goal-bound shot that was destined for just inside the upright.
As for Forres, the 10 men never gave up, but a shot directly at Lewis Munro from Frame was just about their only shot on target in the second half.
The result moves Nairn up to 12th in the SHFL with seven points from seven games.
NAIRN COUNTY – Munro, Carnihan, Bain, C. Maclean (c), Watson, Eadie, Mackay, Kelly, Barron, Dey (As-Chainey 76), Gordon (Thomson 85). Substitutes not used – K. McKenzie, D. Maclean (gk).
FORRES MECHANICS – McCarthy, Macdonald (McRitchie 71), Ramsay, Sutherland (yellow 73), Grant (c) (y36, 43r), Mackenzie (Cruickshank 53), MacLeod (Newlands 71), Frame, Jamieson (Taylor 78), Nixon, Connolly. Substitutes not used – MacPherson, Hayllar, Meikle (gk)
Referee – David Alexander.
Next week, Nairn face a tough trip away at Fraserburgh.
