Gethins hits 101 goals in 101 Nairn County games
CONOR Gethins bagged a brace as his Nairn County tally reached 101 goals in Saturday’s 5-1 victory at home to Rothes.
The former Ross County starlet, who is just back from a calf injury, has now scored 34 goals this season, that’s eight more than nearest rivals Steven Mackay of Brora Rangers.
Amazingly, his 100 and 101st goals in this Station Park encounter came in his 101 match for the club. It sure would have been topped sooner had he not been sidelined for six weeks this season.
Gethins, who lasted the entire 90 minutes, gave Nairn County the lead after 17 minutes when he hooked the ball into the net after Archie MacPhee headed it on for him.
Just five minutes later, Nairn were 2-0 ahead when Michael Morrison punished slack Rothes defending from a corner.
On the half hour mark, Stuart Leslie played a fine ball through for Robbie Duncanson and he calmed steered the ball beyond Ricky Horne.
The scoreline would have been far worse for the visitors had it not been for their keeper who denied Nairn several times, including early in the second half when he dived out to block at the feet of Gethins.
Brora Rangers underlined why the Highland League title will surely be heading their way with a rousing 11-0 rout at home to lowly Strathspey Thistle.
After 35 goalless minutes, the floodgates opened when Zander Sutherland scored.
Andrew Greig and on-loan Ross County striker Steven Ross made it 3-0 by half-time.
Gavin Morrison added a hat-trick and Steven Mackay a double, Ross notched another with single goals coming from Colin Williamson and Ryan Watson.
With Formartine’s game at Clach off, Inverurie Locos steamed into third spot thanks to a 2-1 victory at 2013 champions Cove Rangers.
Forres Mechanics were in ruthless form as they hit six without reply against basement side Fort William in the Highland League on Saturday.
The West Highlanders defended well to start with, but fell behind on 24 minutes to a Stuart Soane penalty.
Goals from Duncan Jones and Craig McGovern pushed the Can Cans closer to victory by half-time.
Kyle Scott added a second half double before Ross Archibald, who is just back from injury, headed a sixth goal for Forres.
Friday night downpours led to Saturday’s Highland League fixture between Clach and Formartine United being postponed.
All other games did get the green light and the Lilywhites will return to action this weekend with a preliminary tie against league leaders Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park in the Breedon’s Aggregate Highland League Cup.
Elsewhere, Deveronvale were 5-2 winners at Fraserburgh, Buckie Thistle beat Turriff United 2-1, Keith came back from Lossiemouth with a 3-1 win and Wick Academy saw off a Huntly fightback to win 3-2.