December 5th 2023
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
NAIRN COUNTY 4 – 0 INVERURIE LOCO WORKS
SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2023
STATION PARK, NAIRN
Goalscorers: Conor Gethins (35, 67 pen), Angus Dey (86) & Andrew MacLeod (88)
County extended their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions when they overcame Inverurie Loco Works with a thoroughly impressive performance against the Harlaw Park side, at Station Park.
The home side made one change from the side that had demolished Forres Mechanics in the North of Scotland Cup in midweek, with Ross Tokely coming back into the starting line-up, replacing youngster Jamie Carnihan, who dropped to the bench.
The home side went into the match in confident mood following their victory over their near neighbours Forres Mechanics, in midweek, and were looking to build on that success. Manager Steven Mackay again started in the left back berth, and he was looking for his side to again show the ruthlessness they had shown three days earlier with another victory.
Boss Mackay must be impressed with the form of Andrew Macleod, who has settled in well since joining on loan from Ross County, the midfielder went into the match having netted six goals from his previous five matches played.
The opening exchanges saw both side’s looking for an early breakthrough, with Meres and Gaffney going close for the visitors, while Conor Gethins and Ciaran Young went even closer for the home side.
The breakthrough duly arrived with ten minutes of the first period remaining when the home side were awarded a penalty. Conor Gethins saw his spot kick saved but with the ball coming straight back to him, he headed it into the net to put the home side in the driving seat at the interval.
Into the second period, with the visitors desperately looking to get themselves back on level terms, with Meres and Gaffney looking to push them forward, while for the home side Andrew MacLeod, Conor Gethins, Angus Dey and Ciaran Young all went close to increasing the home side’s advantage.
Conor Gethins netted his second of the match, eight minutes after the re-start when he converted a spot kick to put the Wee County well into the driving seat.
The visitors afternoon got even worse when midfield man Paul Coutts was sent off by Referee Gordon Seago. Minutes later County made it 3-0, when midfield man Angus Dey found the net with a deflected finish.
The scoring was completed when Andrew Macleod and Angus Dey combined with a superb 1-2 to open up the visitors rearguard, and man of the moment, Macleod, swept home his seventh goal in six matches to send the home fans home happy.
Next up for County is a trip to Broxburn Athletic, on Scottish Cup duty, County will go there with confidence of getting a result.
NAIRN COUNTY: Dylan Maclean: Callum MacLean, Steven Mackay, Ross Tokely, Fraser Dingwall (C): Wayne MacKintosh (Alasdair Gillies 78), Angus Dey, Andrew MacLeod, Conor Gethins (Scott Davidson 69), George Robetson (Ben Kelly 78), Ciaran Young (Aaron Nicolson 62)
Subs unused: Lewis Munro, Owen MacDonald, Jamie Carnihan, Sam Gordon, Tyler Eadie
INVERURIE LOCO WORKS: Ellis, Michie, Morrison, Mitchell, Souter, Donald, Meres, Coutts, Gaffney, Duncan, S.Robertson
Subs: Yunus, Anderson, J.Smith, C.Dingwall, L.Robertson, Buchan, B.Smith, Johnstone, Farquhar
Match Referee: Gordon Seago
