Nairn County 2 v Keith 1

MAROONS UNLUCKY AT NAIRN

This was always going to be a tough tussle at Station Park, but in truth Keith deserved at least a share of the spoils.  Without perhaps playing at their very best they created enough chances and had enough shots on and off target to win the game. In the first half alone the Nairn goalie had three direct saves, two efforts were cleared off the line, Cammy Keith hit the foot of the post and two chances were closely off target.

In the opening 25 minutes, Max Berton had a header cleared off the line, Cammy Keith hit the foot of the post with a low drive, James Brownie had his shot held by the goalie and Michael Selfridge also forced a save out of the home custodian Dylan MacLean.

Nairn's first chances arrived in the 32nd minute with Max Ewan heading over the bar, before Greg Simpson raced off his line to cleverly thwart Scott Davidson.

Back at the other end a Selfridge 12 yarder was cleared off the line, and Berton saw his low effort screw inches past the foot of the far post.

There was to be a sting in the tail though, with two minutes remaining of the first half, the Maroons failed to cut out a through ball and Davidson, son of former Caley legend Roddy, clinically slammed a shot past Simpson.

County doubled the score on the hour mark when the visitors failed to cut out a right wing cross ball and Davidson was right on the spot to ram the ball home. The Maroons stuck to their task and got a glimmer three minutes later when a superb Craig Macaskill right wing cross saw Cammy Keith rise to send a powerful header into the roof of the net for his 19th goal of the season. It was also the sixth successive match that the Keith skipper had managed to score.

As the Maroons strived for a leveller Selfridge forced another save out of MacLean, whilst Simpson pulled off a terrific save to deny the powerful Davidson his hat-trick.

In the final minute the Nairn goalie was at full stretch to tip away a net bound Cammy Keith effort to leave the visitors pointless.

KEITH - Simpson, Young, Thomson (Olumofe 89), Spink, Robertson, Brownie, Macaskill (Bolton 85), Selfridge, Keith, Berton (Gray 77) Macdonald.  Subs unused - Hutcheon, Scott, Yeats, Day.

Referee - Mr P McAvinue

Saturday 18th January 2020, KO 3pm
Report by Charlie Simpson