Fraserburgh F.C.

Recap

Wee County put spanner in Broch works with late equaliser

The Broch were left to rue missed chances as Nairn County fought back to secure a draw at Station Park. On the day where the home side celebrated 100 years of Highland League football it looked like they would suffer defeat as Paul Campbell and Sean Butcher put the Broch two goals ahead but Fraser Dingwall pulled one back and Gordon MacNab’s late leveller sent the Nairn fans home happy. To compound the Broch’s late misery William West was sent off for two bookable offences.

The visitors made three changes to the starting line up which comfortably beat Lossiemouth with Owen Cairns, Kieran Simpson and Sean Butcher all restored at the expense of Lewis Davidson, Bryan Hay and Luke Barbour who all dropped to the bench. Once again they got off to a great start when Greg Buchan’s 7th minute corner was nodded down by Jamie Beagrie and Paul Campbell hammered the ball home from 12 yards out.

It was almost two nil four minutes later in similar fashion. This time Greg Buchan took a short corner to Scott Barbour and his cross was headed back across goal by Kieran Simpson but William West saw his header go over the crossbar. Nairn’s first chance came on 14 minutes when a cross to the back post picked out Fraser Dingwall who headed it back towards Callum MacLean but his half volley was straight at Paul Leask who made a comfortable save.

The Broch were looking especially dangerous from set pieces and another Greg Buchan corner was met by the head of Paul Campbell but a Nairn defender was on hand to clear off the line. On 18 minutes yet another corner by Greg Buchan was pulled back to the edge of the Nairn penalty area and Sean Butcher met it flush on the volley with a bicycle kick which smacked off the post and was cleared to safety.

A minute later the ball broke to Liam Shewan at the edge of the Broch penalty box but his shot was well saved by Paul Leask. The match then descended into a midfield battle but on 35 minutes a good driving run by Scott Barbour ended with him picking out Sean Butcher but the normally reliable striker sclaffed his shot wide. Three minutes before the break a good move between Greg Buchan, Scott Barbour and Michael Rae ended with the aforementioned Buchan firing in a shot which was well saved by James Kendall.

Half Time: Nairn County 0 Fraserburgh 1

The Broch were out of the traps quickly in the second half and Scott Barbour found Greg Buchan with a lovely flicked pass but once again the Nairn County keeper did well to thwart the young winger. A minute later though Liam Shewan broke clear of Michael Rae and drove into the penalty area but he pulled his shot wide of the post. On the hour a free kick from the right by Cohen Ramsay was headed wide by Glenn Main.

The Broch went two ahead on 62 minutes with a lovely goal. Scott Barbour was fouled on the edge of the Nairn penalty area and Sean Butcher stepped up to curl a 20 yard free kick into the bottom corner past James Kendall. The two goal lead lasted 7 minutes when another free kick from the right was nodded home by Fraser Dingwall from eight yards out.

The Broch missed a great chance to secure all three points on 75 minutes when Lewis Davidson’s run down the right ended with a pinpoint cross to the six yard box but the normally deadly Sean Butcher inexplicably headed wide with no one around him. That miss was to prove costly as with two minutes remaining Gordon MacNab latched onto a clearance 25 yards out and his deflected shot flew high past Paul Leask into the top corner.

The Broch had one final chance on 90 minutes when a good passing move between Greg Buchan, Scott Barbour and Luke Barbour saw the latter set up Lewis Davidson but he pulled his shot wide from just inside the Nairn penalty area. To compound the visitor’s misery William West who had been booked a few minutes earlier was rather harshly show a second yellow card for an aerial challenge with Ryan MacDonald which saw the Nairn man bloodied

Full Time: Nairn County 2 Fraserburgh 2

Nairn County: James Kendall, Callum Ednie (Ryan MacDonald 75), Cohen Ramsay, Adam Porritt, Fraser Dingwall, Tom MacLennan (Dylan MacKenzie 45), Max Ewan, Callum MacLean, Glenn Main (Angus Dey 69), Gordon MacNab, Liam Shewan.
Subs not used: Adam Naismith, Seamus McConaghy, Jack MacLean, Dylan MacLean.
Goalscorers: Fraser Dingwall (69), Gordon MacNab (88).

Match Officials: Referee: Billy Baxter, Assistant Referees: Will Adam & Jeremie Fernandes.