Highland League results round-up: Formartine United beat Nairn County to keep up pressure at the top

Stuart Anderson hailed Formartine United’s defensive resolve after they held out to defeat Nairn County in an engrossing encounter at Station Park.

In an excellent advert for the Breedon Highland League, the Pitmedden side triumphed 2-1, despite being under plenty of pressure from the Wee County in the second half.

The result means United remain in second spot in the table, trailing leaders Brechin City on goal difference, with both clubs having amassed 42 points from 19 fixtures.

Formartine are now unbeaten in nine league games going back to September 10 and have only conceded two goals in their last six matches in all competitions.

Manager Anderson said: “It was a difficult 90 minutes and we knew it would be. Nairn’s form has been really good and it was a battle.

“But it was pleasing how we stood up to that, we were under the cosh in the last 20 minutes and were penned in a bit.

“The boys at the back were excellent and (goalkeeper) Stuart McKenzie was outstanding, we’re delighted to get the points at a difficult away venue.

“Although we were under pressure we limited them in terms of chances.

“It’s early days (in the title race) and there’s a long way to go, we’ll keep ticking them off game by game.”

Debuts and fast start

Both sides handed starts to their new signings. Dale Wood debuted at left-back for Nairn after joining from Buckie Thistle, while Matthew Cooper lined up at right-back for Formartine following his loan switch from Elgin City.

United took the lead in the third minute when a corner from the left broke back to taker Marc Lawrence and his floated cross was nodded into the net by Rory McAllister from close range.

County restored parity in the 32nd minute when referee Will Adam awarded a penalty after Gary Pullen went down near the right byline following a challenge from Lawrence.

The visitors disputed the decision, but Calum MacKay finished with aplomb by chipping the spot-kick down the middle Panenka-style past goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie.

Anderson added: “I’m too far away from it, but I go by my players’ reactions and they didn’t think it was a penalty.”

There was a flurry of action before half-time: the unmarked Cooper volleyed over from Lawrence’s free-kick, Nairn’s Paul Brindle wasn’t far away with a 20-yard curler and then Formartine retook the lead on 44 minutes.

McAllister did well to evade a couple of challenges on the left side of the penalty area and his ball across goal was turned into the net by Aaron Norris from close range.

Before the break United could have had a third. Again McAllister was the creator tricking his way past Fraser Dingwall on the left, but his cut-back was lashed over by Lawrence.

County push for leveller

After the interval a swerving Lawrence corner from the right hit the face of the crossbar, but then Nairn upped the ante in pursuit of a second equaliser.

Ben Kelly sent a header wide and a Jamie Carnihan drive forced a decent stop from goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie, before the hosts’ best chance arrived on 72 minutes.

Kenny McKenzie’s delivery from the left found Brindle, but he was denied by an excellent block from Stuart McKenzie at close quarters.

As Nairn committed more bodies forward Formartine did have chances in the closing stages to net a third goal to make their victory more comfortable.

Substitute Julian Wade was thwarted twice by goalkeeper Dylan Maclean, firstly with a shot on the turn from a Luke Strachan free-kick and then when he was through one on one after good work from Paul Campbell.

Nairn are eighth in the table and manager Wayne Mackintosh said: “I’m disappointed we didn’t get something because I thought the boys were excellent.

“It was probably our best performance of the season and I think we deserved something.

“We maybe didn’t quite get the luck we needed – but the positive is that we competed against one of the best teams in the league.

“In the second half I think we were the better team and battered them for parts of that half.

“I said to the players they’ve set a standard there in terms of performance, even though we didn’t get the result.

“The penalty’s maybe soft, but it’s a great finish. Paul Brindle’s on penalties so I don’t even know why Calum’s taken it!”

Brechin City 3-0 Rothes

Brechin City remain at the top of table after beating Rothes in a 2pm kick-off at Glebe Park.

Two second half goals in quick succession from Euan Spark gave the Hedgemen control of the contest and Bayley Klimionek completed the scoring late on.

Rothes remain at the bottom of the league are now winless in 40 matches.

Clachnacuddin 2-3 Turriff United

Alfie Youngson has ruled himself out of the running to become Turriff United manager – despite leading them to a 3-2 victory against Clachnacuddin.

Youngson, who has been assistant manager to Warren Cummings, was in interim charge at Grant Street Park following the shock resignation of Cummings on Friday.

He said: “I was massively disappointed when I heard the news about Warren.

“I’ll carry on until the club finds a new manager, there’s a really good group of players here and having spoken to Warren about it I’ll carry for another week or two until a replacement comes along.

“Turriff’s a good club, but the job isn’t for me.”

Reflecting on the win against Clach, Youngson added: “Given the build-up to the game we couldn’t ask for anything more from the players, they were magnificent.

“They were a bit flat beforehand and I think that carried into the start of the game and we lost an early goal.

“But they’re a great group and they rallied and managed to get a result against a top team.

“We all suffered a big blow on Friday with the news, so for the players to pick themselves up and produce the performance they did was brilliant.”

Match action

Clach went ahead on eight minutes when Allan MacPhee’s inswinging corner from the left found the net, but in the 52nd minute Turra levelled with Miller Keir scoring at front post from Murray Cormack’s right-wing cross.

Six minutes later Cormack cut in off the right and netted with a left foot shot to give the visitors the lead, but the Lilywhites equalised on 86 minutes courtesy of a back post header from debutant striker Alfie Lobban after a cross from the right.

Then in stoppage time United won it when Cormack played Keir through on goal and he made no mistake.

Clach drop to fifth in the table, four points off the summit and boss Conor Gethins said: “We weren’t ruthless enough.

“Turriff played us well, they worked hard, won second balls and they punished us when they got their chances.

“People say we’re challenging for the league, but on this evidence we won’t challenge.

“It was nice for Alfie to score, he plays in our under-18s and he’s scored 31 goals for them this season and he came on and did well.”

Fraserburgh 3-1 Forres Mechanics

Fraserburgh came from behind to win against Forres Mechanics at Bellslea.

Mark McLauchlan’s penalty – following a foul by Dylan Robertson on Jack Grant – gave the Can-Cans the lead, but just before half-time Broch talisman Scott Barbour levelled things up.

After the interval Willie West put the home side ahead and Barbour notched their third.

Fraserburgh move up to third, while Forres sit in 14th.

Inverurie Locos 0-3 Brora Rangers

Brora Rangers triumphed against Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park.

Alex Cooper bagged a brace and Jordan MacRae got the other goal for the champions, while the Railwaymen are now without a win in seven matches in all competitions.

Buckie Thistle 5-0 Keith

Buckie Thistle ended Keith’s eight-match unbeaten run in the Highland League by going nap at Victoria Park.

The Jags made a fast start as Josh Peters opened the scoring and own goals soon after from Nathan McKeown and Scott Barron had them three up.

Peters got his second before half-time and completed his hat-trick in the second half.

Deveronvale 1-0 Lossiemouth

Jack Mitchell’s goal was enough to end Deveronvale’s five-game losing streak as they beat Lossiemouth at Princess Royal Park.

The Coasters are now without a win in seven matches stretching back to October 18.

Wick Academy 2-1 Huntly

Wick Academy did the double over Huntly courtesy of their win at Harmsworth Park.

Pre-match striker Sam Reid joined Wick on a short-term loan from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while Huntly recruited midfielder Liam Macdonald on a short-term loan from Elgin City and both players were on their respective benches.

The Scorries took the lead when Ryan Campbell’s effort was deflected into his own net by Black and Golds defender Ruari Fraser. Campbell then doubled Academy’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

Sam Robertson did pull a goal back for the visitors, who had Callum Murray sent off late on, but it finished 2-1.

Meanwhile, Banks o’ Dee v Strathspey Thistle was postponed due to the Grantown Jags being unable to field a team because of illness.

[Source: Press and Journal]