Goal feast on Nairn’s Station Park return
NAIRN County moved five points clear of Buckie Thistle in third place in the Highland League - thanks to a rousing 5-2 Station Park midweek win against mid-table Deveronvale.
This was Les Fridge’s side first home game in seven fixtures as they ensured that their supporters lapped up the drama.
Deadly duo Steven Mackay and Conor Gethins notched doubles in this treat for their fans and Wayne Mackintosh also netted, while Kyle Rae and Scott Fraser were the scorers for Vale.
Midfielder Mackay, who began the night just five goals shy of the division’s top scorer Cammy Keith, who has 33 goals, fired the Wee County ahead on eight minutes after playing a neat one-two with Gethins.
Vale blasted back though with a terrific 25-yard free-kick reply from Rae on 14 minutes.
However, Nairn regained their advantage just two minutes later when Robbie Duncanson fed the ball to Gethins, who chipped the ball into the net.
Mackay grabbed his second on 34 minutes when his free-kick was touched back to him by Gethins and he scored in style.
It remained 3-1 until the final 10 minutes when there was a late goal flurry for the majority of fans who stayed until the end.
Vale gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Rae delivered a telling free-kick into the box and Fraser emerged to fire a header past Callum Donaldson.
Any nerves were settled, however, with five minutes to go when Mackay picked out Mackintosh and he steered his shot past the keeper to make it 4-2.
A great Donaldson save denied Deveronvale’s Kevin Adams before Nairn notched their final goal deep in stoppage time through Gethins.
Nairn are now just seven points behind second-placed Cove Rangers, although both teams have now played 31 fixtures.
Clach racked up their ninth straight Highland League win on Wednesday as they swept to a 5-0 victory against Brora Rangers at Grant Street.
A pleasing factor for the Merkinchers is that there were five different scorers. Martin Callum shot them ahead on 17 minutes when he tucked the ball past keeper Sean McCarthy after Chris Ross’s drive was deflected.
In-form Allan Pollock made it 2-0 on 36 minutes when he sent a searing shot low into the net to complete a move which oozed pace and quality.
Brora looked rattled and they soon found themselves 3-0 down when Colin Williamson was on hand to crash the ball into the net after the goalkeeper parried a Pollock free-kick into his path.
And, deep into first half injury time, Sam Urquhart added his name to the scoresheet when he got on the end of a delivery from Scott Graham, who had made a terrific run down the left flank.
Clach sub Scott Morrison rounded off the evening’s goal feast with a netted from a cut-back from Urquhart.
In the other midweek fixture, Lossiemouth leapt up to eighth-place in the table with a comfortable 3-0 home win against Rothes.
