Nairn County set for Highland League clash at Station Park on Wednesday as they prepare for final four games of the season
NAIRN County are set to take on Turriff United at Station Park tomorrow night as they look to bounce back from throwing away a two-goal lead in the 4-2 defeat at Wick Academy last Saturday.
With four games remaining the campaign, Nairn had still to announce appointing a new manager at the time of going to press following Ross Tokely standing down in January.
Interim manager Brian Macleod, has been in temporary charge since Tokely’s departure, but has previously confirmed he does not want the job on a permanent basis.
Nairn County got off to a bright start at Wick on Saturday and went ahead after 17 minutes when Andrew Greig’s cross from the left was headed in by Ben Barron.
Nairn doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when a corner by Calum Mackay wasn’t cleared and captain Fraser Dingwall forced the ball home from practically on the goal line.
The Scorries reduced the deficit with a superbly worked goal on the stroke of half-time. Matthew Aitkenhead made progress up the right and picked out Macadie, who set up Gordon MacNab for a first-time shot high into the far corner.
Academy got themselves level eight minutes into the second half when Henderson raced through in acres of space and knocked the ball beyond keeper Dylan Maclean before shepherding it into the unguarded net.
The home side grabbed the lead on 63 minutes when a heavy touch by Maclean was seized upon by the alert Macadie, whose first-time finish was unerring.
Four minutes later MacNab was given his marching orders by referee Filippo Mazzoni.
As MacNab walked past the Nairn bench, words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving ensued and a fist appeared to be aimed at the Wick player. The upshot was a red card for Nairn’s Gary Kerr, who had been subbed off a few minutes earlier.
Academy made sure of the points after 85 minutes when the tireless Marc Coghill chipped a cross into the box from the right and substitute Kennedy directed a diving header high into the net.
The defeat leaves Nairn County in 13th place in the Highland League with four games remaining this season.
After taking on Turriff at Station Park, they head to Glebe Park to face Brechin City on Saturday and then Pitmedden to face Formartine United on Wednesday, April 9.
Their final game of the season will be against Deveronvale at Station Park on Saturday, April 12.