What a difference a season makes

Forres Mechanics 0 Nairn County 1

A deflected Gregg Main goal was enough to give title chasing Nairn County a big three points which highlighted the difference between the 2011-2012 campaign and the 2012-2013 one.

Twelve months ago it was the Mechanics who were walking away from games like this with the points and manager Charlie Rowley reflected up on that after the game. “This game and even the one against Huntly when we didn’t play well but conceded a late equaliser just show how from season to season things change in terms of that little but of luck.

“I was disappointed with the result of this game but I felt we deserved more than we got in the end. They are a really good side and played well but we more than matched than, particularly in the second half but we just didn’t get the luck in the way that they did.

“Other than the defelected shot for the goal Chris Stuart didn’t have much to do at all. Nairn put us under pressure in first half without hurting us, we defended exceptionally well but in the second half we were in the ascendancy. Callum Donaldson earned them three points two great saves so in summary I was really pleased with performance but for obvious reasons not the result.”

With Stuart Knight unavailable Chris Stuart donned the number one shirt in what was the main change to the Mechanics line up for this game. Nairn began the match sharply and put Forres under a spell or early pressure that culminated in fine save from Chris Stuart that denied David Watson after he weaved past three players to fire goalwards from 10 yards after an Andy Neill corner had been only partially cleared.

The Mechanics first effort of note came from Craig McGovern who fired a Kyle Scott delivery over the crossbar. The Nairn pressure continued and Simon Allan had to clear an Andy Neill shot off the goalline.

The breakthrough arrived in the 35th minute when Gregg Main tried his luck from distance and his luck proved to be in. The ball struck Martin McMullen, leaving Chris Stuart stranded, and flew into the top corner of the goal.

This seemed to spark Forres into life and Graham Fraser went close with a shot from the edge of the box that flew just wide of Callum Donaldson’s goal. The second half saw the Mechanics build on that positive end to the half.

Chris Stuart made a great save to deny Michael Morrison a goal at his former stomping ground but it was the form of Callum Donaldson at the other end that was to be the main talking point at the final whistle as he denied the Mechanics twice with great stops as Kyle Scott, Lee Fraser and Ross Archibald all felt they could well have grabbed the leveler in the closing stages.

Forres Mechanics: C Stuart, G Fraser, S Fraser, G Grant, R Macpherson, D Jones (S Moore 79), R Archibald, M McMullen (L Fraser 72), S Allan, K Scott, C McGovern Subs: W Barron, R Mackintosh, A Howard

Scorers: -

Booked: M McMullen (3), R Macpherson (15), G Grant (55) Sent Off: -

Nairn County: C Donaldson, S Webb, Gl Main, M Morrison, M Macdonald, W Mackintosh, Gr Main, D Watson, R Duncanson (J Cameron 70), C Gethins, A Neill Subs: R Naismith, P Macleod, S Ellis, M McCallum

Scorer: Gr Main (35)

Booked: Gr Main (71) Sent Off: -

Referee: C Sim

Gazette Gold Star: Craig McGovern was a constant threat on the left and edged a few out to claim the gold star