December 5th 2023
LOWLY Rothes were blow away by rampant Nairn County at a blustery MacKessack Park as the home side had no answer for their visitors’ attacking flair, writes Graeme Macleod. It took less than a minute for Nairn to notch the opening goal as good work down the left by Alan Pollock and Robbie Duncanson presented John Cameron with a chance and the restored striker made no mistake from 10 yards. County had a second just five minutes in as Duncanson chested the ball down facing his own goal on the right at the halfway line and volleyed it over the top of the Rothes defence for Sam Urquhart to run on to and crash a shot into the top corner. Urquhart then stepped over a low Adam Naismith cross from the right to allow Pollock to run on to the ball and place it home to get himself in on the act on 12 minutes. Three minutes later, Cameron advanced in on goal and added his second of the afternoon and it could have been even worse for the hosts but Naismith somehow contrived to miss a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and an Urquhart shot crashed off the underside of the crossbar. It did not take long for Nairn to get back among the goals though as Duncanson made it five from the penalty shot on 33 minutes after Cameron had been fouled and then it was roles reversed as Duncanson evaded several challenges cutting in from the left before pulling the ball back from the bye-line for Cameron to knock home from close range on 39 minutes to complete a first half hat trick. A goalkeeping error just a minute later allowed Urquhart to walk the ball over the line for number seven in a first half that was all too easy for County. And they started the second where they left off as Duncanson netted his second penalty of the day following a foul on Pollock before Martin MacDonald headed home number nine via the inside of the post on 59 minutes. Only a stunning diving save to keep out a Pollock shot prevented it from being double figures while the crossbar denied substitute Ross Naismith. Graeme Macleod
