Nairn County hit back to defeat Keith by odd goal in five in midweek Highland League clash at Station Park

Although Keith battled valiantly and playing the last 25 minutes with only ten men after Liam Cheyne received a second yellow card, they lost out by the odd goal in five in an end-to-end encounter at Station Park.

Despite an early flurry of Keith corners it was Nairn who edged ahead through Ciaran Young in the 10th minute.

Ten minutes later it was level pegging when an enticing Cheyne left wing cross was neatly headed home by Mikey Taylor from six yards.

Four minutes later the Maroons got their noses in front when Gavin Elphinstone raced through to brilliantly clip the ball over Dylan MacLean’s head into the net.

However, ten minutes from the break it was all square once again when Craig Reid came out of his charge to punch away a free kick and wily veteran Ross Tokely expertly lobbed the ball into the roof of the empty net from 20 yards.

The second half continued in the same vein with end-to-end action, but with 63 minutes on the clock the deciding goal came from the penalty spot. Cheyne upended Young inside the penalty area, the striker making no mistake with the resultant award.

Six minutes later Cheyne received a second yellow card which earned him an early bath. Although his team-mates stuck to the task they couldn’t get the leveller which nobody would have begrudged.

Keith team: Reid, Wilson, Cheyne, Coull, Robertson, Gill, Elphinstone, Brownie, Cooper (Lynch), Taylor (Tough), Duncan (Ironside). Subs: Addison, Yeats, Killoh, Morrison, Smith, MacLeod.

Referee: D Alexander.

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