December 23rd 2024
NICK Highet's second goal in as many Nairn County under-20s home fixtures saw them record a second successive 1-0 victory as they edged out Clachnacuddin in front of a healthy crowd at Station Park. The hosts were first to threaten as Callum Ednie cut in from the left and on to his right foot but his dipping shot from the edge of the box was tipped over the crossbar. Fraser Wilkie was called into action at the other end on 23 minutes to keep the match goalless and two minutes later, Struan Tweedie was short with a pass back to the goalkeeper that was latched on to by Ali Gunn. But the Clach striker could only guide his shot across goal and beyond the far post. The lively Gunn threatened again for the visitors but his rasping drive on 31 minutes was parried away by the diving Wilkie. Dylan Mackenzie was put into the team having played an hour on Saturday for the first team and his near post stooping header off a Nick Highet corner from the left was hacked clear from the goal line just before half time. After the restart, a powerful strike from Reece Barton 20 yards out was held by Clach shot stopper Callum Maclean. Mackenzie had another chance to put his side in front on 52 minutes but his angled drive from 15 yards was beaten behind by Maclean at the near post. Gunn tried to clip the ball over Wilkie from 20 yards on 62 minutes but the ball drifted over the top. There was a worry for Nairn as overage player Willie Barron limped off with a hamstring strain. Mackenzie continued to threaten and his free kick from 22 yards drifted narrowly past the near post. Barton poked a 20-yard effort inches past the post on 67 minutes then six minutes later, Wilkie excelled to parry a powerful Rorie MacLeod drive from 22 yards out over the crossbar. A stinging drive from a trialist sub for Nairn was touched past the post on 77 minutes before County struck a minute later. Substitute Sam Gordon raced down the right and slipped a fine through pass for the angled run of Nick Highet to latch on to and blast a shot high and across Maclean from 10 yards out to settle it. Nairn County – Wilkie, Tweedie (Alexander 61), Ednie, Munro, Barron (Trialist 65), Grant, Barton, Porteous, Mackenzie (Gordon 67), Macleod, Highet. Subs unused: MacBean, Trialist (gk). Clachnacuddin – C. Maclean, A. Maclean, Trialist, R. Macdonald, Trialist, MacLeod, C. MacDonald, McLaughlin, Lamont, Gunn, Fraser. Subs unused: C. Fraser, Forsyth, Trialist, Trialist. Graeme Macleod
