January 3rd 2025
A FIVE-GOAL haul from the prolific Conor Gethins was still not enough to wrest the man of the match award away from Ross Naismith as the midfielder outshone the Highland League Player of the Year in his first start of the season, writes Graeme Macleod. County started the rout from the off with Kyle Wilkie playing a neat one-two with Gethins which put the former Hamilton Academical forward through on goal. He showed composure to waltz around Rothes goalkeeper Ricky Horne and stroke the ball home. Gethins got his first of the night as he stroked the ball under Horne after receiving a Robbie Duncanson pass and cutting in from the right to put Nairn two up early on. A foul in the box on Naismith saw Nairn awarded a penalty kick and Gethins made no mistake from the spot but Rothes pulled one back almost immediately to make it 3-1 at half time. Naismith took the ball down well and lashed home to get his name on the score sheet shortly after the restart before Gethins swivelled and fired in his third of the game. The Irish striker grabbed his fourth goal of the evening in fortuitous circumstances as he instinctively added a slight touch to a Naismith shot to wrong foot Horne as the ball flew into the net. Gethins grabbed his fifth to complete the scoring as his effort had too much power on it for Horne to deal with as the ball crept into the net despite the stopper getting a strong arm to it, rounding off a comfortable evening for the hosts. Graeme Macleod
