July 15th 2024
NAIRN County under-20s turned the tables on Clachnacuddin with three late goals to claim the points in a dramatic finale to this North of Scotland League game at Station Park. County called Clach goalkeeper Callum Maclean into action on two minutes with Matthew Macleod's effort being blocked by the stopper before the visiting number one made a superb save with his foot to keep out trialist's follow up with his right boot. Clach went in front on nine minutes though. Rorie Macleod's deep in-swinging free kick from 30 yards out on the left dropped in towards the far post with Conor MacPhee able to run on to it and knock it home first time. Nairn broke forward on 21 minutes with Mackay racing in from the left and cutting the ball back for Macleod but his drive was blocked by a covering defender. At the other end, Ali Gunn cut in from the left and bent a curling right-footed shot from the edge of the box across goal and off the face of the crossbar. County threatened seven minutes after the break with Macleod flicking a low Gordon free kick from deep into the path of Mackay but he blasted straight at Maclean. Then, on 54 minutes, the ball broke to Craig Munro in the box but his powerful drive was blocked by Maclean, who again saved with his legs. The visitors should have wrapped up the points nine minutes from the end but Lamont could only touch a low cross from the left past the far post with the goal gaping. Nairn made them pay with a leveller on 83 minutes. Debutant Craig McDermott flicked a ball in from the left on to Trialist and he took a touch before cracking a shot inside the near post from 15 yards. Clach pushed forward with a deep free kick into the box from the right being touched off the post and cleared with the visitors claiming it had crossed the line. Fraser Wilkie was then called into action to make a fine diving save to his left. But County went in front two minutes from the end. Macleod cut in from the left and fizzed the ball across for substitute Ryan MacBean to turn home his second of the season. The points were safe a minute later with Mackay riding a challenge to burst down the right before firing in a low cross that was turned into his own net by Clach defender Cameron Fraser. Nairn County – Wilkie, Tweedie, trialist, Munro, Ednie (yellow 72) (Wheeler 86), Barton, Payne, Grant (McDermott 67), M. Macleod, Mackay, Gordon (MacBean 67). Subs unused: Cuthbert, Alexander. Clachnacuddin – C. Maclean, A. Maclean, K. Fraser, MacPhee, C. Fraser, MacLeod, MacDonald, Deans (Forsyth 53), Lamont, Gunn, McClauchlan. Subs unused: MacQuarie. Referee – Gavin Dearie. Graeme Macleod
