December 5th 2023
THE under-20s made a winning start to their North of Scotland League campaign, seeing off Forres Mechanics by the odd goal in five at Station Park, writes Graeme Macleod. It took just seven minutes for the hosts to edge in front. A low corner from the left by Matty Macleod was not dealt with by Forres goalkeeper Euan Storrier at his near post. That allowed Craig Munro to nip and knock home the opener from a yard out. Fraser Forbes went closest to levelling for Forres before half time but his curling drive from the left-edge of the penalty area did not have enough bend on it to take it inside the far post. Nick Highet marked his official debut for the club with a goal on 54 minutes to double Nairn's lead. The pacy winger sprinted on to a precise Adam Porteous through pass from just inside the County half and scampered away from the Forres defence before showing a cool head to knock home his side's second goal of the evening. But Forres pulled one back just two minutes later as Brandon Hutcheson was allowed to sneak a low effort across Ryan Macleod's goal and in off the far post. The move of the night saw Nairn add what turned out to be the winner on 66 minutes. Substitute Sam Gordon played a perfectly-weighted low cross from wide on the right across the face of the Forres back line for Highet to run on to. He unselfishly knocked the ball to his right taking goalkeeper Storrier out of the equation and allowing Matty Macleod to waltz in his side's third of the night. Trialist Brandon Scott pulled another one back for Forres just three minutes later to set up a nervy finale as he raced through and picked his spot beyond Macleod. But Nairn held on to make it a winning start to the North of Scotland League campaign. Nairn County – R. Macleod, Trialist (Tweedie 67), Alexander, Munro, Barton, Grant (Colliar 85), MacKinnon, Porteous, Highet, M. Macleod, Trialist (Gordon 60). Subs unused: MacBean, Wilkie (gk). Forres Mechanics – Storrier, Allan (Trialist 76), Trialist, Trialist, McIvor, Patterson, Trialist (Trialist 54), Trialist, Hutcheson, Trialist (Trialist 79), Forbes. Subs unused: Trialist, Trialist. Referee – Stephen McDade. Graeme Macleod
