NAIRN COUNTY
0
On paper, Clach look by far inferior to County as they attempt to nurture and develop a young side on a shoe string budget. And home manager Dave MacKay will be glad football is played on grass not paper because on this showing at least, his side are better than their more illustrious visitors in every single department.
Despite last week's 4-1 loss to league champions Keith at Station Park, Les Fridge chose only to make one change to his starting line up as Brian Macleod returned from suspension to take the place of Darren Jarvie. Chris Finnigan was omitted from the squad completely as Jarvie dropped down to the bench.
The home side broke the deadlock only five minutes into the match as they came flying out of the traps and looked like the side who wanted the three points the most. A whipped delivery from the left came at an awkward height for County midfielder Gregg Main as he covered round the back and attempted to make a clearance. Unfortunately for Nairn, he miscued and sent the ball flying past the helpless Campbell and into the net.
Clach were back on the attack soon after the opening goal when Robbie Duncanson surged past County defender Stephen Skinner but the former Nairn striker was denied by Campbell.
As Nairn looked to create something at the other end, Willie Barron surged down the right and tried to find Shaun Kerr in the middle after 11 minutes but the Nairn captain overhit his cross and the delivery was too high for County's number 9, returning to Grant Street for the first time.
Nairn's financially-stricken hosts went two goals up after only a quarter of an hour. The visiting defence were slow to react when the ball found its way to Neil Gibb leaving the former Inverness CT trainee the time and space to find the unmarked Connelly. The wily veteran was left in acres of space by the static County defence and drilled home shot that beat Campbell at his bottom right hand corner.
Nairn's best efforts in what remained of the half came from range as they struggled to create anything incisive in the final third. Wayne Mackintosh's shot from fully 30 yards on the half hour mark left home goalkeeper Neil Hastie untroubled as he made an easy save before Brian Macleod fired his effort well over the crossbar from the edge of the box three minutes before the break.
There was still time for Martin MacDonald to go close for the visitors but his header drifted past the post in the last attack of a half in which Nairn never created anything clear cut in front of goal. (H-T 0-2).
The visitors had a decent shout for a penalty less than a minute after the restart when Brian Macleod was brushed off the ball inside the box but the appeals were waved away by referee Matt Northcroft.
Andrew Fraser went close to adding a killer third for Clach in the 49th minute but he pulled his effort past Campbell's post while at the other end the alert Steven MacDonald was able to halt Barron in his tracks after the Nairn man was picked out by Duncan Jones' raking pass.
John Campbell in the County goal had the best seat in the house to view the majority of play in the 35 or so minutes later remained as the home side regained control of the match.
The tricky Duncanson wriggled clear of the Nairn defence in the 56th minute but was forced to shoot early and saw his low drive blocked by Campbell. But things went from bad to worse for Nairn two minutes later as Clach effectively wrapped up all three points. Duncanson managed to nip in ahead of County defender Martin Sanderson to meet a Chris Ross cross and he managed to steer the ball beyond Campbell with a side foot to grab the goal he was craving against his former club.
The Nairn roof now sat precariously on the brink of caving in and Clack really should have had a fourth goal only a couple of minutes after Duncanson had put them three goals up. Ross raced towards but selfishly fired over the crossbar when a simple square pass would have left his team mate Blair Lawrie with a easy tap in.
County did manage to work themselves another sight of goal but their luck was well and truly out as Macleod's close range shot bounced back off the chest of Hastie with the goalkeeper knowing little about the save.
The home side added a fourth in the 76th minute when David Watson surged forward from full back and saw his low drive blocked by Campbell. The loose ball landed at the feet of Andrew Fraser who stabbed home from close range.
And a miserable afternoon for Nairn was rounded off seven minutes before the end when Clach made it 5-0. Duncanson went to ground in the penalty area after minimal contact from County defender Martin MacDonald. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Lawrie stepped up to stroke home and make amends for his missed spot kick at Station Park earlier this season. (F-T 0-5).
Goals: 0
Shots on target: 4
Shots off target: 2
Corners won: 0
Offsides against: 1
Fouls conceded: 8
Woodwork hit: 0
Yellow cards: 5
Red cards: 0
Goals: 5
Shots on target: 7
Shots off target: 8
Corners won: 6
Offsides against: 4
Fouls conceded: 9
Woodwork hit: 1
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
1)John Campbell: 6 y 78
24)Martin Sanderson: 5
18)Stephen Skinner: 5
17)Steven Edwards: 5 y40
5)Martin MacDonald: 5
6)Wayne Mackintosh: 5 y85
7)Willie Barron: 5
12)Duncan Jones: 4
[15)Scott Graham 60]: 2
9)Shaun Kerr: 5
22)Gregg Main: 4
[2)Neil MacDonald 68]: 2 y72
11)Brian Macleod: 6 y55
Subs Unused:
8)Johnathon Holland
16)Darren Jarvie
30)Willie Ridgers (GK)
1)Neil Hastie: 7
2)David Watson: 7
3)Gordon McNab: 7
4)Steven MacDonald: 7
5)Neil Gibb: 7
[15)David Clark 74]: 2
6)Neil MacCuish: 7 y49
7)Blair Lawrie: 8
8)Chris Ross: 8
9)Robbie Duncanson: 8
[12)Chris Sutherland 78]: 2
10)Gordon Connelly: 8
11)Andrew Fraser: 8
[14)John McLeod 78]: 2
Subs Unused:
16)Gordon Mackenzie
17)David Matheson